The Amarnath Yatra resumed on Tuesday after a one-day suspension, with another group of 1,873 Yatris departing from Jammu for the Baltal base camp in North Kashmir. Officials from the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), which oversees the Yatra, reported that since the pilgrimage began on June 29 this year, approximately five lakh devotees have visited the holy cave shrine.
“No Yatri convoy is heading to the South Kashmir Nunwan (Pahalgam) base camp today. Only one escorted convoy of 69 vehicles with 1,873 Yatris departed from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu at 3:25 a.m. for the North Kashmir Baltal base camp. There are no Yatris traveling to the Nunwan (Pahalgam) base camp today. The ‘Chhari Mubarak’ (Lord Shiva’s Mace) will now be taken via the traditional Pahalgam route to the cave shrine, with the Chhari Mubarak set to leave Pahalgam for the shrine on August 14,” officials said.
The large number of security forces, including police and CAPFs, have been doing round-the-clock duties all along the over 350-long route from Jammu to the two base camps to secure the pilgrims’ passage.
In addition to this, security forces are deployed in sufficient numbers at the transit camps, base camps and at the cave shrine for the safety of the Yatris.
Locals are not far behind in ensuring that the Yatris are assisted to perform the mountainous journey with ease. Locals provide ponies and also work as porters for the pilgrims often carrying the weak and infirm devotees on their backs to and from the cave shrine.
Officials of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) headed by Lt. Governor, Manoj Sinha have been managing the affairs of the Yatra with professional competence. All this together, has ensured this year’s safe, smooth and hassle-free pilgrimage to the cave shrine through some of the most rugged and treacherous mountain terrain in the Himalayas, said the officials.
The cave shrine houses an ice stalagmite structure that wanes and waxes with the phases of the moon. Devotees believe that this ice stalagmite structure symbolises the mythical powers of Lord Shiva.
The cave is situated at an altitude of 3,888 metres above sea level in the Kashmir Himalayas. Devotees approach the cave shrine either from the traditional South Kashmir Pahalgam route or the North Kashmir Baltal route.
The Pahalgam-Cave shrine axis is 48 Km long and takes Yatris 4-5 days to reach the shrine. The Baltal-Cave shrine axis is 14 Km long and takes one day for the pilgrims to have ‘Darshan’ and return to the base camp.
Helicopter services are also available for the pilgrims both at Baltal on the North Kashmir route and at Chandanwari on the South Kashmir route.
This year’s Yatra will conclude after 52 days on August 19 coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan festivals.