Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 9: Around 900 pilgrims performed darshan in holy cave of Shri Amarnath Ji situated at an altitude of 3,880 meters in deep Himalayas in South Kashmir district of Anantnag today taking total number of pilgrims having paid obeisance to Lord Shiva since commencement of the yatra on June 28 to 3.72 lakh.
Meanwhile, ‘Chhari Mubarak’, the silver holy Mace of Lord Shiva reached Panjterni for a final darshan of the self made Ice-Shivlingam in the Amarnath cave shrine tomorrow on the occasion of Shravan Purnima (Raksha Bandhan), falling tomorrow.
According to an official spokesperson, 897 pilgrims performed darshan in the cave shrine today taking total number of pilgrims to 3,72,271 who had performed darshan till late tonight since start of the pilgrimage.
He added that a group of about 78 pilgrims, who had arrived at Nunwan Pahalgam base camp from Jammu last evening left early this morning to join the Chhari-Mubarak which has reached Panjterni, 5-kilometer short of the cave shrine today.
These pilgrims have to join the Chhari at Panjterni till this evening as the 44-day-long annual pilgrimage will culminate tomorrow after final darshan in the cave shrine, he said, adding that now no pilgrim will be allowed on this traditional track as the gates have been closed for this year now.
Besides 279 devotees’ left Baltal base camp via shorter track for holy cave while 146 pilgrims performed the yatra by air.
He said the pilgrims who left via Baltal had reached the cave shrine by late in the evening.
He added the pilgrims reaching the Baltal camp till 1100 hours were allowed to proceed towards the cave shrine from the shorter route, adding that the gate was closed and nobody was allowed to move towards the shrine after 1100 hours as directed by Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB). However, from Pahalgam side, the pilgrims were allowed to proceed towards cave shrine from 0530 hours to 1200 hours.
If any yatri will reach the base camp at Baltal even this evening, he or she will be allowed to proceed towards the cave shrine even tomorrow. It takes only few hours to reach the cave shrine from this track, they said, adding that yatris can also return through this track in one-day, he added.
The weather was cloudy and there was rain also but the pilgrimage was progressing smoothly, he said.
Meanwhile, singing devotional songs, a large number of devotees, after a night halt, left Sheshnag early this morning with Chhari-Mubarak for Panjterni, the last halting station on the traditional Pahalgam track.
Har Har Mahadev and Bam Bam Bholay rented the air when Mahant Deependra Giri, custodian of the holy Mace, carrying the Chhari, left Sheshnag.
Mahant said pujan will be held at Panjterni and devotees will sing devotional songs today. However, after a night halt Chhari will leave for the holy cave shrine early tomorrow morning on the occasion of Shravan Purnima.
Finally, the Chhari will enter the holy cave shrine after covering 5-km-long distance on foot for a final Pujan, marking the end of annual 44-day-long pilgrimage this year on the occasion of Sharavan Purnima (Raksha Bandhan).
Mahant Giri said after pujan for entire day, the Chhari will started return journey before the sunset tomorrow.
Mahant Giri said the Chhari will return to its abode at Deshnami Akhara on August 12 after organising traditional pujan and other rituals on way back from holy Cave.
Yatra official said that one more pilgrim hailing from Punjab has died at Pahalgam base camp, taking the toll to 46 since the commencement of the annual pilgrimage to holy Amarnath cave shrine.
He stated that a sewadar namely Gian Chand of Punjab, suffered a heart attack at Pahalgam base camp and was immediately shifted to health centre where he was declared as brought dead.
With this, a total of 46 pilgrims have died during the pilgrimage from Baltal and Pahalgam tracks. Majority of them died due to heart attack, he added.
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