The annual Amarnath Yatra to the Himalayan cave shrine in Jammu and Kashmir will begin on July 21 and end on August 3. This year the Yatra will be open for the devotees for 15 days duration, stated the officials of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB).
The cave shrine is situated at 3,880 meters above the sea level in J&K’s Anantnag district. The “Pratham Puja’ for the Yatra was held here on Friday.
The duration of the Yatra has been cut short this time because of the coronavirus pandemic except for the Sadhus and pilgrims below 55 years of age will be allowed.
In the view of the pandemic, certain regulations are issued by the authorities for the pilgrims. All those undertaking the Yatra must possess COVID negative certificates. All the pilgrims will have to register themselves online for the Yatra except the Sadhus.
“The pilgrims will be cross-checked for the virus on arrival And then will be further allowed to undertake the Yatra on entry into J&K”, an official of the SASB said.