Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, July 15: Over 13,400 pilgrims drawn from different parts of country today performed darshan at Himalayan cave situated at the height of 3880 metres in South Kashmir district of Anantnag from twin tracks of Baltal and Nunwan-Pahalgam.
Officials said that 13,490 yatris paid obeisance at holy cave by this evening. They said with this, the total number of pilgrims who visited cave shrine in last 13 days has touched 2,34,001.
The 13,490 pilgrims included 9096 males, 3546 females, 199 children, 67 Sadhus, 14 Sadhvis and 568 security personnel.
Officials said that there is heavy rush and hustle-bustle in Yatra area as thousands of pilgrims are daily reaching twin base camps for embarking on pilgrimage to holy cave. Officials said it was drizzling in the yatra area and cave shrine during the day. However, yatra plied normally from both tracks.
Officials said that one Yatri Sanjay Musukanth, son of Shankar Musukanth of Maharashtra passed away at Chandanwari. He was 46 years old. He fell unconscious at the Upper side of gate at Chandanwari and was shifted to Army hospital Chandanwari where doctors declared him as brought dead. His registration number was 513381.
Meanwhile, a fresh batch of 6,388 pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas here early today to offer prayers at the Amarnath cave shrine in South Kashmir Himalayas, officials said.
They said the 14th batch of 6,388 pilgrims, including 1,308 women, left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp here in 248 vehicles between 3:25 am and 4:15 am.
The first convoy, carrying 2,501 pilgrims in 103 vehicles, left for the shorter but steeper 14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal district, followed by the second convoy of 3,887 pilgrims in 145 vehicles who are undertaking the yatra via the 48-km traditional Pahalgam route in Anantnag district, they said.
With this, a total of 95,439 pilgrims have departed from the Jammu base camp for the Valley since July 2, when Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off the first batch. Today’s was the 14th batch that left Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas for twin base camps in Kashmir.
The 38-day long annual pilgrimage will conclude on Shravan Purnima coinciding with Raksha Bandhan festival falling on August 9 after the holy mace of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati will reach the cave shrine from its abode Dashnami Akhara, Srinagar.
The holy mace will leave Dashnami Akhara on August 4 after performing various rituals at historic Shankaracharya and Hari Parvat temples by its sole custodian Mahant Deependra Giri Ji and Sadhus.
Enroute to holy cave the Chhari Mubarak will perform puja in traditional way at various temples at Durga Nag, Pampore, Awantipora, Bijbehara, Mattan, Ganeshpora and Pahalgam.
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