Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, July 18: After remaining suspended due to inclement weather and rains from both the tracks yesterday, the holy Amarnath yatra was resumed from both shortest Baltal and traditional Pahalgam tracks early this morning.
On 21st day of the yatra, 7,351 pilgrims paid obeisance at cave shrine situated in deep Himalayas in South Kashmir district of Anantnag at an altitude of 3880 meters today.
Till date, 2,08,933 pilgrims have paid obeisance at cave shrine since the two month long yatra started on June 28, an officer on yatra duty said.
He said the yatra is going on smoothly from both the tracks and after being suspended yesterday, it was resumed from twin tracks today.
He said the weather during the day remained dry but cloudy and yatra plied smoothly. However it rained in the evening.
The officer said over 6000 pilgrims left for holy cave from twin tracks and by chopper today. Out of this 3719 pilgrims left from Baltal base camp to holy cave by foot this morning while 1004 left by air.
Besides, 2100 pilgrims left from Nunwan -Pahalgam base camp towards holy cave this morning. Over 10,000 pilgrims are staying at Baltal for night halt today while 4653 pilgrims left for Srinagar on way to their home States today. Besides over 5000 pilgrims are putting up at Pahalgam and Nunwan for night, he added.
He said the yatris having night halt at transit camps of Chandanwari, Sheshnag and Panjtarni also left for their onwards sojourn early this morning.
While the yatris who left Panjtarni this morning performed their darshan in the holy cave today, those from Chandanwari and Sheshnag will spent one to two nights in the next transit camps.
The officer said that out of over two lakh pilgrims who have performed the darshan during last 21 days at holy cave, majority have reached their home States while others are on way back.
The two -month long yatra will culminate on Shravan Purnima coinciding with Raksha Bandhan festival falling on August 26 when holy mace led by Mahant Deepender Giri Ji Maharaj, its sole custodian, will reach cave shrine from Dashnami Akhara Srinagar.
Meanwhile, the 18th batch of 1,983 pilgrims left Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in a fleet of 59 vehicles under tight security cover in the wee hours today for twin base camps of Nunwan-Pahalgam and Baltal in Kashmir valley.
These yatris will leave for onwards journey form their respective base camps early tomorrow morning.
Yatra Nodal Officer, Jammu, Arun Manhas said that 2178 pilgrims were registered at three registration counters here today. He said over 3000 yatris are camping at Jammu in various lodges, community centers and Yatri Niwas and they will leave for their respective base camps in Kashmir valley early tomorrow morning.
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