Over 6400 perform darshan at cave shrine
Avtar Bhat
Jammu, Aug 2: Though authorities have suspended this year’s annual Amarnath Yatra, just a week ahead of its scheduled conclusion, due to need for maintenance on the tracks that were damaged by recent heavy rainfall, over 6400 pilgrims performed darshan at Himalayan cave on the 31st day of pilgrimage today.
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Officials said 6497 pilgrims drawn from different parts of the country paid obeisance at the holy cave at a height of 3880 metre in South Kashmir district of Anantnag by this evening.
With this, a total number of 4,14,311 pilgrims performed darshan at cave shrine during last 31 days from twin tracks of Baltal and Nunwan -Pahalgam, officials said.
They said among the 6497 pilgrims who performed darshan at cave shrine today included 4586 males, 1299 females, 62 childrens, 51 Sadhus, five Sadhvis and 494 security personnel.
All these pilgrims after paying obeisance have started their return journey towards Domail and Panchtarni, the officials said. They said majority of over four lakh pilgrims who visited holy cave during last one month have returned to their home States while others are on the way.
The 38-day-long yatra which had started from twin tracks of Baltal and Nunwan Pahalgam on July 3 will culminate on Sawan Purnima coinciding with Raksha Bandhan festival falling on August 9 after the holy mace from its abode Dashnami Akhara, Srinagar reaches the cave shrine.
Though authorities have suspended yatra from August 3 but the holy mace will leave Dashnami Akhara as per schedule on August 4 towards the holy cave and there will be no change in its programme.
Led by its sole custodian, Mahant Deependra Giri Ji the holy mace enroute after paying obeisance at various Hindu shrines and temples will reach Pahalgam in the evening on August 4 where after a two night halt it will leave for Chandanwari on August 6. It will reach cave shrine on August 9 and perform religious rituals and Puja for the entire day in a traditional manner before its return to Panchtarni on its way to Pahalgam in the evening.
Officials said the yatra, which began on July 3, was scheduled to conclude on August 9 on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. However, authorities decided to shorten it by a week, citing “critical repair and maintenance works” to be undertaken in the wake of the heavy rainfall.
“Due to recent heavy rainfall and the need for track maintenance along both the Baltal and Pahalgam axis of the Shri Amarnathji Yatra route, the yatra movement has been closed on both the routes,” Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri, said.
“It has been observed that due to the continued deployment of men and machinery on the tracks from tomorrow, we would not be able to resume the yatra. The yatra will therefore remain suspended from August 3 onwards from both the routes,” he explained further.
Bidhuri noted that this year, over 4,10,000 yatris visited the holy cave shrine.
In comparison, last year saw more than 5,10,000 pilgrims pay their respects at the shrine.
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