Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU July 31: Amidst Chhari Pujan for the current year Yatra, 3294 more pilgrims today paid obeisance at the cave shrine of Shri Amarnathji in south Kashmir thus taking the total number of devotees performing darshan of the holy Ice Lingam during the last 30 days to 3,15,284.
Further, a fresh batch of 418 pilgrims left Jammu for the cave shrine in the wee hours this morning in a motorcade of 14 vehicles from Bhagwati Nagar base camp. The batch comprised of 357 men, 59 women and two children.
At Pahalgam, Chhari-Mubarak Shri Amarnath Ji rituals for Yatra 2015 began today with Pujan on the occasion of ‘Vyas-Purnima’, which marks traditional commencement of the annual pilgrimage. Bhoomi-Pujan, Navgreh-Pujan, Chhari-Pujan’ and Dhawajarohan ceremonies were performed while chanting Vedic hymn. The sound of conch shell reverberated the whole atmosphere.
Large number of Sadhus and pilgrims were present on the occasion and they also participated in the Pujan. Prayers were also offered at historic Martand Temple, Mattan in Anantnag.
Speaking on the occasion, Mahant Deependra Giri, Mahant Chhari-Mubarak Shri AmarnathJi suggested that the Amarnath pilgrimage should be arranged and undertaken only as per the traditions described in our scriptures.
The event was organized by ‘The True Trust’ founded by Mahant Deependra Giri in year 2004.
Meanwhile, 29th meeting of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board was held today under the chairmanship of Governor N N Vohra, who called for sustained efforts to further improve the facilities provided to the devotees undertaking this annual pilgrimage.
The meeting was attended by Members of the Board, Prof Ved Kumari Ghai, Dr Devi Prasad Shetty, Sunita Narain, Vijay Dhar, Dr Chander Mouli Raina, Pt Bhajan Sopori, D C Raina, and P K Tripathi, CEO as well as Jitendra K. Singh, Additional CEO of the Board.
The Members expressed concern over the recurring stoppages of the pilgrimage due to blockage of Sonamarg-Baltal road because of landslides and mud slides following cloudbursts on this route. They stressed the importance of a more advanced weather forecasting system being set up in Kashmir.
Mr Tripathi, CEO, made a detailed presentation on the various important aspects of Yatra 2015, highlighting the initiatives taken for bringing about progressive improvements in the logistical and other arrangements for the pilgrimage.
While discussing the arrangements made for provision of health care facilities, Members were informed that the CEO, with the Chairman’s endorsement, had issued a standing order for any pilgrim or service provider who took seriously ill in the Yatra area, to be airlifted to Srinagar at the Shrine Board’s cost and provided the best available medical treatment. Members suggested that the CEO should also explore the possibility of medical care being provided during aerial evacuation of the sick person.
CEO also informed that the Camp Directors were organizing the cremation of every person who died in the Yatra and providing financial support to the next of kin for the by air transportation of the dead body to the home town of the deceased, in all cases where the bodies were not cremated here. The Board also deliberated on Advance Registration Quota, On-Spot Registration and utilization of registration quota till date
The Board was informed that till July 30, 2015 as many as 2,46,134 pilgrims had secured Advance Registration for undertaking the pilgrimage while 98,584 Yatris had availed On-spot Registration facility, The Board was informed that the weather status is being closely watched with the help of the forecasts furnished by the India Meteorological Department, for which IMD has recently commissioned an X-band Doppler Weather Radar at the IMD Campus, Ram Munshi Bagh, Srinagar and 6 Advanced Weather Systems (AWS) at Holy Cave, Baltal, Sheshnag, Panjtarni, Pahalgam and Chandanwari.
The Board was informed that two booklets on ‘Kashmir Shaivism’ and ‘Shri Amarnathji Teerath Yatra’, written by Prof. Ved Ghai, Member of the Board, have been published and put on sale at nominal prices. It was informed that this year the BSNL has provided 3G connectivity at Baltal, Domel and Chandanwari and also has augmented Bandwidth on V-SATS at Holy Cave, Panjtarni and Sheshnag.
The CEO informed the Board that, as per the data compiled by the Board officials, 36 persons had lost their lives till July 30, 2015 and 29 of whom died due to medical failures, 4 due to a cloud burst and 3 on account of accidents in the Yatra area.
The Board expressed sympathy over the loss of lives and hoped that all potential pilgrims would duly take into account the harsh weather conditions in the high altitude region of the Yatra area, and prepare themselves suitably.
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