Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 28: Over 9000 pilgrims drawn from various parts of country paid obeisance at Himalayan cave from twin tracks of Baltal and Nunwan-Pahalgam on 26th day of pilgrimage today in South Kashmir district of Anantnag.
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As per officials, 9118 yatris performed darshan of naturally formed Ice Shivlingam in holy cave at the height of 3880 metres by this evening. With this, a total number of 3,86,198 yatris visited the holy cave in last 26 days.
Officials said among 9118 yatris who paid obeisance today at cave shrine included 6598 males, 1702, females, 93 children, 51 Sadhus, three Sadhvis, one transgender and 670 security personnel.
All these pilgrims after performing darshan returned towards Domail and Panchtarni for night haltage where from they will leave for their onwards journey to their home States tomorrow morning.
It may be recalled that the footfall of yatra has decreased constantly over last one week.
Meanwhile, one pilgrim Tapan Kumar from West Bengal suffered breathlessness near cave shrine and despite the best efforts by the medical team and police he breathed his last after cardiac arrest.
Meanwhile braving heavy rains, more than 1600 pilgrims left Jammu today for the twin base camps of the cave shrine of Amarnath in the South Kashmir Himalayas amid tight security arrangements.
The 38-day pilgrimage to the 3,880-metre-high shrine commenced on July 3 from the twin tracks in Kashmir valley.
Escorted by CRPF and police personnel, the 23rd batch of 1,635 pilgrims, which included 1,303 men, 286 women, four children, and 42 Sadhus and Sadhvis, left Bhagwati Nagar base camp here in 59 vehicles for the twin base camps in Kashmir between 3:25 am and 4:00 am, the officials said.
The first convoy, carrying 374 pilgrims in 17 vehicles, left for the shorter but steeper 14-km Baltal route in the Ganderbal district, followed by the second convoy of 1,262 pilgrims in 62 vehicles, who are undertaking the yatra via the 48-km traditional Pahalgam route in Anantnag district, they said.
Chanting “Bum Bum Bhole” and ‘Har Har Mahdev’ with enthusiasm, pilgrims braved heavy rains while leaving for the cave shrine.
With this, a total of 14,12,95 pilgrims have departed from Jammu base camp for the Valley since July 2, when Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off the first batch.
Last year, more than 5.10 lakh pilgrims paid obeisance at the cave shrine, which houses a naturally formed ice lingam.
The pilgrimage is scheduled to end on August 9, coinciding with the Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan festivals after holy mace (Chhari Mubarak) reaches the cave shrine from its abode Dashnami Akhara, Srinagar.
The Chhari Sthapana was held at Dashnami Akhara yesterday by Mahant Deependra Giri Ji and Sadhus and tomorrow Chhari Pujan will be performed in a traditional way. The holy mace will remain at Dashnami Akhara for darshan of devotees up to the morning of August 4 and after that it will leave for last leg of pilgrimage to cave shrine.
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