* Watch video of yatra on Excelsior Youtube channel
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, July 17: After remaining suspended for a week in the wake of unrest in Valley following the killing of dreaded terrorist Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces on July 8, the Swami Amarnath Ji yatra was resumed from traditional Pahalgam track today.
About 900 pilgrims reached Pahalgam late last night. Among them 450 took shelter in Nunwan base camp while others stayed at Pahalgam. The yatra was resumed on this track following strong protest by ponywallas and tent owners at Sheshnag and Pahalgam few days back warning that they will pack up and leave in protest against the decision of authorities to suspend the yatra from this track, sources said.
This forced the Shrine Board authorities to resume the yatra from this track also and a first batch of about 900 pilgrims reported at Pahalgam by late last night after a gap of nearly one week.
All these pilgrims left for holy cave from Pahalgam and Nunwan base camp early this morning. Some of them have reached Chandanwari while others were on their way till last reports came in.
Sources said the ponywallas and tent people have taken serious exception to suspension of pilgrimage from Pahalgam despite it being the traditional track of yatra having a religious sanctity and demanded early resumption of pilgrimage from this route too.
An official spokesman said that 4614 pilgrims reached Baltal base camp by early this morning under tight security from Jammu who later proceeded to holy cave situated at an altitude of 13000 feet in South Kashmir district of Anantnag for darhsan.
He said 4510 pilgrims paid obeisance at holy cave by this evening and out of them some were on their way to Baltal. With this the total number of pilgrims in the 48 day long yatra which started on July 2 has touched, 1,72,851.
It may be recalled that after remaining suspended for the two days on July 14 and 15 for second time in last one week, the Amarnath yatra was resumed yesterday from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas under tight security. However hundreds of yatris after remaining stranded here for days together returned back to their home States as they fell short of money and could not afford to remain stranded for more days.
Four buses of pilgrims from Maharashtra who were stranded at NH for three days near Udhampur returned to their home States with a heavy heart early yesterday morning without leaving for darshan.
A spokesman said that a fresh batch of 1889 yatris left Jammu yatri Niwas for holy cave today in a cavalcade of 56 vehicles amid tight security and they had reached near Jawahar Tunnel till last reports came in. These pilgrims will reach base camps of Pahalgam and Baltal during the night hours to proceed towards holy cave early tomorrow morning, spokesman added.
He said while the weather at Pahalgam and Baltal was pleasant for the day torrential rains lashed the holy cave area for about two hours this morning disrupting the movement of yatra for some time.
Meanwhile, holy mace of Lord Shiva (Chhari Mubarak) will be taken from its abode Dashnami Akhara Srinagar to Pahalgam for special prayers on July 19, a tradition marking the formal beginning of annual Amarnath yatra.
As per Hindu tradition, rituals like Bhoomi Poojan, Navgrah Poojan, Dhawajarohan connected with the commencement of annual Chhari Mubarak of Swami Amarnath Ji will be performed at Pahalgam across the river Lidder on auspicious occasion of Ashad Purnima falling on July 19.
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