JAMMU: A small batch of 724 pilgrims on Monday left from Bhagwati Nagar base camp here for Amarnath Cave Shrine in a convoy of 19 vehicles chanting ‘bam bam bhole’.
“The pilgrims left from here to perform pilgrimage from both Baltal and Pahalgam routes,” an official here said.
He said that the pilgrims comprised of 491 male, 186 females, 43 Sadhus and four Sadhvis left in 14 buses and 05 light motor vehicles.
Till date 79514 pilgrims have left the cave shrine from Jammu.
Meanwhile, pilgrimage was progressing smoothly from shortest Baltal and traditional Pahalgam tracks to holy Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas, where so far over 2.60 lakh yatris had paid obeisance since the commencement of the 60-day-long pilgrimage from June 28.
Meanwhile, seven langars set up at different places are closing down following sharp decline in the number of devotees.
The yatra will conclude on August 28 when the Chhari-Mubarak, silver Mace of Lord Shiva will be taken inside the cave shrine. About 1000 pilgrims, who had night halt at different camps, have paid obeisance at the cave shrine since early this morning.
With this a total of 2.60 lakh pilgrims had darshan of the self made Ice-Shivlingam at the cave shrine so far. On the 32nd day of the ongoing Yatra , 3131 Yatris paid obeisance at the Holy Cave on Sunday from shortest Baltal and traditional Pahalgam tracks.
A fresh batch of pilgrims , including women and sadhus, left Baltal base camp for the holy cave shrine early this morning despite cloudy weather, official sources said.
They said the yatris started their foot journey towards the cave shrine early this morning. The pilgrims after covering the 14-km-long hilly track are expected to reach the holy cave in the afternoon to pay obeisance. The pilgrims who had night halt at cave shrine after darshan, have also started their return journey towards Baltal base camp.
Similarly, a fresh batch of left Nunwan Pahalgam base camp for first halting station at Chandanwari on the traditional track, connected by road. However, majority of the pilgrims continued their journey towards the next halting station, they said adding the yatris who had night halt at Chandanwari also left for next station early this morning.
(AGENCIES)
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