12,209 take Baltal route; 10,900 opt for Chandanwari track
Heavy rush at on-spot registration counters
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, July 5: As many as 21,109 pilgrims performed darshan of holy Ice Lingam of Lord Shiva on Day 3 of the annual pilgrimage in South Kashmir Himalayas today, the highest during last three days of the yatra. With this, a total of 47972 pilgrims have performed darshan during last three days.
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Increasing trend of the yatra was also witnessed at Bhagwati Nagar base camp here with 6979 pilgrims departing for Baltal and Nunwan (Pahalgam) base camp early this morning. The number was 5200 on Day One and 6400 on Day 2. Besides 6979 yatris, who left for Nunwan and Baltal in official convoy, a large number of yatris reached the twin camps directly.
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Officials told the Excelsior that 21,109 pilgrims offered prayers at Shri Amarnath Ji’s cave shrine in South Kashmir Himalayas during the day today with yatra progressing smoothly from both Baltal and Chandanwari (Pahalgam) tracks as the weather was fine. Those praying at the cave shrine located at the height of about 12,700 feet from seal level include 16159 males, 3921 females, 226 children, 250 Sadhus, 29 Sadhvis, three transgenders and 521 security personnel.
On July 3; 12,348 pilgrims offered prayers at the shrine while the number went up to 14,515 on July 4. On July 5; the number further rose to 21,109. With this, a total of 47,972 yatris have offered prayers at the cave shrine during last three days of the pilgrimage.
Officials said 12,209 pilgrims took shorter but tough Baltal route for reaching Shri Amarnath Ji shrine today while 10,900 opted for traditional Chandanwari track. Those taking Baltal route returned to the base camp by late this evening after having darshan.
There has been enthusiasm among the pilgrims which is being witnessed at base camps of Nunwan and Baltal and all along the twin tracks with people singing bhajans and chanting religious slogans enroute.
Officials said number of pilgrims reaching Bhagwati Nagar base camp besides Nunwan and Baltal directly has increased during last three days because of peaceful and smooth pilgrimage and elaborate security and all other arrangements made for the yatris by security forces, Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board and the administration.
“Widening of the tracks is also attracting more pilgrims,” they said.
Meanwhile, braving heavy rain, a fresh batch of over 6,979 pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp early this morning for Nunwan and Baltal to offer prayers at Shri Amarnath shrine.
The fourth batch of 6,979 pilgrims — 5,196 men, 1,427 women, 24 children, 331 Sadhus and Sadhvis and one transgender — left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in two separate convoys between 3.30 am and 4.05 am amid tight security.
While 4,226 pilgrims left in 161 vehicles for Nunwan base camp for the 48-kilometre traditional Pahalgam route, 2,753 pilgrims were heading for the shorter but steeper 14-kilometre Baltal route in 151 vehicles, they said.
With the fresh departure, a total of 24,528 pilgrims have left the Jammu base camp for the Valley since Wednesday, when Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off the yatra from here.
Heavy rush continued at on-spot registration counters set up in Jammu. A large number of yatris are reaching unregistered and have been opting for registration before proceeding for the annual pilgrimage, which started on July 3 and will conclude on August 9 coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan.
The yatra goes on as usual, albeit in tighter security, despite the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 civilians including 25 tourists and a local were gunned down.
The Bhagwati Nagar base camp has been put under a multi-tier security cover. More than 3.5 lakh people have registered online for the pilgrimage so far.
Thirty-four accommodation centres have been set up across Jammu, and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags are being issued to the pilgrims. Twelve counters have been set up for an on-the-spot registration of pilgrims.
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