With 18 days remaining till the Amarnath Yatra‘s conclusion on August 9, more than three lakh Yatris have participated in the event, surpassing the official projection of 3.50 lakh this year. The Yatra began on July 3.
According to the administration, 3.07 lakh pilgrims had received “darshan” inside the sacred cave site as of Sunday.
In two protected convoys, another group of 3,791 Yatris departed Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas today for the Valley. At 3.33 a.m., the first escorted convoy of 52 cars left for Baltal base camp with 1,208 Yatris, and at 4.06 a.m., the second guarded convoy of 96 vehicles left for Pahalgam base camp with 2,583 Yatris, according to officials.
The chairman of the Shri Amarnath ji Shrine Board (SASB) and J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha paid a visit to the Baltal base camp on Sunday.
A meeting of officials was presided over by the L-G to examine the plans put in place to ensure the Yatra ran smoothly.
He and the Yatris ate lunch at one of Baltal’s “Langars,” or community kitchens. The L-G engaged with the Yatris as well.
The security and other preparations made for the Yatra were praised by the L-G.
On July 10 of this year, Pahalgam hosted the Bhumi Pujan of “Chhari Mubarak,” or Lord Shiva’s Holy. From its location at the Dashnami Akhara Building in Srinagar, a group of seers led by Mahant Swami Deependra Giri, the Chhari Mubarak’s only caretaker, transported it to Pahalgam.
The Bhumi Pujan was held in the Gauri Shankar temple in Pahalgam, where the Chhari Mubarak was brought. After that, the Chhari Mubarak was returned to its location at the Dashnami Akhara structure. The Yatra will officially come to an end on August 9 when it arrives at the sacred cave shrine after making its last trek from the Dashnami Akhara temple in Srinagar on August 4.
Because this year’s Amarnath Yatra follows the barbaric attack of April 22, in which terrorists backed by Pakistan massacred 26 civilians after separating them based on faith in the Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam, authorities have prepared substantial multi-tier security arrangements.
To supplement the current Army, BSF, CRPF, SSB, and local police forces, 180 more CAPF companies have been added.
More than 8,000 fully trained commandos have been sent out by the Army to ensure the Yatris’ safe passage.
The Yatra this year began on July 3 and will conclude on August 9, which falls on Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan, after 38 days.
Yatris go either the shorter Baltal path or the more traditional Pahalgam way to reach the sacred cave shrine, which is located 3888 meters above sea level in the Kashmir Himalayas.
To get to the cave shrine, those who choose the Pahalgam path walk 46 kilometers through Chandanwari, Sheshnag, and Panchtarni. To reach the cave shrine, a pilgrim must journey for four days. The 14-kilometer walk to the cave shrine requires those who choose the shorter Baltal path to return to the base camp the same day after receiving darshan.
For security concerns, Yatris will not have access to helicopter services this year.
An ice stalagmite structure inside the cave shrine waxes and wanes in accordance with the moon’s phases. The ice stalagmite structure, according to devotees, represents Lord Shiva’s legendary abilities.