Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, July 21: On the second Monday of Shravan month which is considered auspicious as per Hindu traditions, 17,000 pilgrims drawn from different parts of the country paid obeisance at Himalayan cave at an height of 3880 metres in South Kashmir district of Anantnag today.
Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp
According to officials, 17,016 pilgrims performed darshan of naturally formed Ice Lingam from twin tracks of Baltal and Nunwan -Pahalgam in holy cave by this evening taking the total number of yatris visiting the cave shrine in last 19 days to 3,21,000.
Among them majority of pilgrims have returned to their home states by now while others are on the way. The pilgrims who performed darshan at holy cave today also started their return journey towards Baltal base camp and Panchtarni camp, officials said.
They said that among the 17,016 pilgrims who performed darshan at cave shrine today included 12,757 males, 3270 females, 150 children, 158 Sadhus, nine Sadhvis, a transgender and 669 security personnel.
Officials said 5088 yatris crossed Domail Access Gate in the morning towards holy cave, while 10523 returned to Domail after performing darshan at cave shrine by this evening. Officials said 3014 pilgrims had a night halt at Panchtarni while 3297 pilgrims halted at Sheshnag during last night. Besides, over 6000 pilgrims left from Sheshnag to holy cave in the morning, they said.
Officials said that there is huge rush of yatris as thousands of pilgrims daily report from different parts of country at twin base camps to embark on holy pilgrimage.
Meanwhile, a fresh batch of over 3,700 pilgrims left Jammu today for the twin base camps of the cave shrine of Amarnath amid tight security arrangements, officials said.
Escorted by CRPF and police personnel, the batch of 3,791 pilgrims — 3,067 men, 522 women, nine children, 192 Sadhus and Sadhvis, and a transgender — left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp here in 148 vehicles between 3.33 am and 4.06 am, they said.
The first pilgrim convoy, carrying 1,208 pilgrims in 52 vehicles, left for the shorter but steeper 14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal district, followed by the second convoy of 2,583 pilgrims in 96 vehicles, who are undertaking the yatra via the 48-km traditional Pahalgam route in Anantnag district, they said.
Officials said more than 4 lakh people have registered online for the pilgrimage so far. Last year, more than 5.10 lakh pilgrims paid obeisance at the cave shrine.
The 38-day pilgrimage will conclude on August 9 coinciding with holy Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan festivals when the Chhari Mubarak of Shri Amarnath Ji from its abode Dashnami Akhara Srinagar will reach cave shrine for darshan. The holy mace one depicting Lord Shiiva and another Goddess Parvati will be carried by its sole custodian, Mahant Deependra Giri Ji who will be accompanied by Sadhus and devotees from Dashnami Akhara Srinagar to holy cave on August 4. Enroute, the Chhari Mubarak will perform Puja at various temples and shrines right from Durga Nag Srinagar to Pahalgam.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
