SRINAGAR : Despite intermittent rain and drop in mercury, pilgrimage to holy Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas is going on smoothly as fresh batches of yatris left Baltal and Nunwan Pahalgam base camps for the cave shrine early this morning.
A Yatra Control Room (YCR) official said 478 pilgrims paid obeisance yesterday. With this, a total of 3,49,720 yatris have paid obeisance at the Holy Cave since the commencement of the 59-day-long pilgrimage from July 2.
Large number of devotees are visiting Amreshwar temple at Akhara near here to have the glimpse of Chhari-Mubarak which has been kept there.
The yatra will conclude on August 29, Rakshbandhan, when the Chhari Mubarak, holy Silver Mace of Lord Shiva will be taken inside the cave for final pujan.
The official told UNI that fresh batches of more than 250 pilgrims left Baltal and Nunwan Pahalgam base camps for the holy cave shrine this morning as the weather was pleasant.
He said a fresh batch of about 150 yatris, including women, sadhus and children, who had night halt at Baltal base camp, left for the cave shrine early this morning, singing devotional songs.
The pilgrims are scheduled to reach the cave shrine to pay obeisance in the afternoon.
Meanwhile, pilgrims who had night halt near cave shrine have also started their return journey to base camp this morning.
He said about 100 pilgrims, including women and sadhus, left Nunwan Pahalgam base camp for Chandanwari, the last motorable halting station on 45-km-long traditional yatra track. However, pilgrims, who had night halt at Chandnawari and other halting station on the track, have also started their journey towards the cave shrine early this morning. (AGENCIES)
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