Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, July 12: Governor N. N. Vohra, who is also Chairman of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, (SASB) today visited the holy cave shine of Lord Shiva and reviewed the yatra arrangements there. He also reviewed the arrangements at, Panjtarni, Domel and Baltal camps.
At the holy cave, the Governor prayed for peace, harmony, progress and prosperity in the State.
The Governor, accompanied by Navin K. Choudhary, Chief Executive Officer of the Shrine Board, inspected the arrangements at the Holy Cave, Panjtarni and Domel and held meetings with the concerned officers at these three Camps.
Later, he inspected the functioning of the Access Control Gate at Domel, functioning of the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) and the arrangements at the Baltal base camp. Thereafter he chaired a high level review meeting involving the Camp Director and the senior most officers of all concerned State Government departments and the security forces.
Among those present in the review meeting at the Baltal base camp included Navin K. Choudhary, Principal Secretary to the Governor and CEO, SASB; P. S. Sandhu, IG BSF; Sarmad Hafiz, Deputy Commissioner, Ganderbal, Shahid Mehraj, SSP, Ganderbal, Col. Gojendra Singh, CO of 2 MAHAR, R. K. Pandita, GM (Works), SASB; senior officers of the Police and security forces and concerned district and divisional officers of PDD, PHE, CAPD, PWD (R&B), Health, Forests and Environment, Labour, Animal Husbandry and other concerned departments.
Taking an extensive review of the arrangements put in place to facilitate the yatra, the Governor reiterated to the district and Divisional heads of all the concerned Government Departments, service providers and all other agencies to bring about continuing improvements, wherever required, to facilitate the pilgrimage.
While inspecting langars, the Governor reiterated the decision that the langar organizations shall maintain hygienic conditions and cleanliness in and around their langars. He issued instructions to the Camp Director, Deputy Commissioner and Senior Superintendent of Police to enforce stringent sanitation measures for ensuring that the entire base camp area is kept neat and clean.
During his visit to Domel, the Governor reviewed arrangements in regard to Access Control Gate management and forward movement of yatris towards holy cave. He checked the Yatra Permits of some of the pilgrims and enquired from them their views about the Yatra related arrangements. He asked the Camp Director and others concerned to ensure that no Yatri without valid Registration should be allowed to cross the Access Control Gate.
During round of the Baltal base camp, the Governor inspected the Sewage Treatment Plant and expressed satisfaction at its functioning.
The Governor also reviewed the arrangements made, interalia, for provision of facilities of water and power supply, medicare, Fire and Emergency Services, telecommunication, weather forecasting, ration and other essential commodities, control rooms, Baggage X-ray unit, Disaster Management and rescue measures, sanitation, etc.
The Governor thanked all the Government departments, other concerned agencies, service providers, Police and the Security Forces for their support and cooperation for smooth conduct of the Yatra.
Meanwhile, on 15th day of Yatra, 14,945 pilgrims performed darshan at holy cave today. With this, the total number of pilgrims paying obeisance of Icy Lingam in holy cave situated at an altitude of 3,880 metres in deep Himalayas in South Kashmir district of Anantnag has reached to 2,14,118 since the first darshan on June 28.
An official spokesman said that the yatra is proceeding smoothly from both Baltal and Chandanwari tracks.
He said 4,547 pilgrims left for holy cave from Nunwan-Pahalgam base camp via traditional Chandanwari track while 4,099 left from Baltal base camp via shortest track under tight security arrangements this morning.
Besides, 1,576 pilgrims left for holy cave by air, he added.
He said the weather enroute to holy cave was pleasant. The yatris who performed darshan in the cave shrine today have also started their return journey, he added.
The spokesman said that 1,871 pilgrims left from Bhagwati Nagar Jammu base camp for holy cave in 61 vehicles early this morning and these pilgrims after a night halt at Baltal and Nunwan base camps in Kashmir valley will leave for cave shrine tomorrow morning.
All these pilgrims had crossed the Jawahar tunnel by the evening, he added.
According to Mahant Deepender Giri Custodian, Mahant Chhari-Mubarak of holy cave the age-old traditional rituals ‘Bhoomi- Pujan’, Navgrah Pujan and Dhawajarohan, connected with commencement of annual Chhari-Mubarak, holy Silver Mace of Lord Shiva Yatra would be performed at Pahalgam on auspicious occasion of ‘Ashad-Purnima’ (Vyas-Purnima) on July 22.
Mahant Deependra Giri, today announced the programme for Amarnath Yatra-2013 for the information of saints and devotees.
He said after performing the Chhari-Pujan at Dashnami Akhara, Srinagar on ‘Nag-Panchami’ on August 11, Mahant Deependra Giri would carry the holy mace to have ‘darshan’ on Shravan-Purnima on August 21 in the holy Amarnath cave shrine, the concluding day of the Amarnath Yatra.
Mahadev Gir Dashnami Akhara Trust, Srinagar, has made all the arrangements like yesteryears for Sadhus coming from across the country for annual pilgrimage of Swami Amarnath for their food and comfortable stay at Akhara building, Budshah Chowk, Srinagar.
He said Chhari-Mubarak would leave for Pahalgam at 0615 hrs from Dashnami Akhara, Srinagar.
‘Bhoomi Punjan and Dhwajarohan’ ceremonies would be performed at the resting place of Chhari-Mubarak, Pahalgam. After performing the rituals, Chhari-Mubarak shall return to Dashnami Akhara the same day.
Pujan would also be performed at historic Martand Temple, Mattan on the way from Pahalgam to Srinagar.
As per the programme, the holy mace will be taken to Shankaracharya temple from Dashnami Akhara near here on August 6, early in the morning and return to its abode later in the day.
The next day, the Chhari Mubarak will be taken to Sharika Bhawani temple in the morning and return to Dashnami Akhatar after offering prayers and paying obeisance to Goddess Sharika Devi.
He said on August 9 ‘Chhari Sthapana and Dhwajarohan’ will be performed at Dashnami Akhara, which houses the holy mace.
On August 11, traditional Chhari Pujan will be held on the occasion of Nagpanchmi at Dashnami Akhara in the evening.
Mahant Giri said Chhari-Mubarak will commences its journey to the holy Shrine of Swami Amarnath at 0800 hrs from Dashnami Akhara, on August 16, for night halt at Pahalgam.
On the way to Pahalgam, Pujan would be performed at Sureshwar Temple at Sonawar, Shiv Temple Pampore, Shiv Temple Bijbehara, Martand-Tirth Mattan and Ganesh Temple across river Lidder, Ganeshbal.
He said the next day will be observed as ‘ Ekadashi’.
On August 18, ‘Dwadashi’, Chhari Mubarak will leave Pahalgam at 1400 hrs for a night halt at Chandanwari, the last motorable halting station on traditional Pahalgam route.
He said on August 192 ‘Tryodashi’ Chhari-Mubarak shall start journey at 0700 hrs from Chandanwari for night halt at Sheshnag.
From Sheshnag, the Chhari Mubarak will leave for a night halt at Panchtarni on August 20, ‘Chaturdashi’
The next day ‘Sharavan-Punima’ the Chhari Mubarak will be taken to holy Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himlayas from Panchtarni on Raksha Bandhan.
Traditional rituals would be performed and prayers offered the whole day at the holy Cave.
However, before dusk, Chhari-Mubarak would leave for night halt at Panchtarani.
On August 22, Pratipada, Chhari Mubarak will leave Panchtarani early in the morning for a night halt at Pahalgam where on the occasion of ‘Dvitiya’, Pujan and Visarjan ceremonies shall be performed at 1015 hrs on the bank of Lidder river.
Thereafter, traditional ‘Kari-Pakouri’ bhandara shall be organized for Sadhus.
With this last ritual, annual pilgrimage of Swami Amarnath Ji shall culminate and Chhari-Mubarak shall return to its Abode at Dashnami Akhatar, Srinagar.
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