Amarnath Yatra likely to surpass 3 lakh pilgrims today amid unprecedented security
Over three lakh pilgrims are expected to take part in the ongoing Amarnath Yatra as another batch of 4,388 pilgrims leaves Jammu. Security has been heightened following past attacks.
Srinagar: Over three lakh pilgrims are likely to perform the ongoing Amarnath Yatra in 18 days as another batch of 4,388 pilgrims left Jammu for Kashmir on Sunday. The yatra is being conducted amid unprecedented security.
Over 2.75 lakh pilgrims have so far paid their obeisance at the shrine.
While 4,388 pilgrims arrived in Kashmir from Jammu’s Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas, more than four times that number of pilgrims reach here every day directly and get registered on the spot, either at the transit camps or the two base camps. The number on Sunday is likely to cross three lakh.
The entire Yatra route from Jammu to the two base camps of Baltal and Pahalgam and the two treks from Baltal and Pahalgam to the cave shrine are guarded 24/7 by the army, J&K Police, BSF, CRPF, SSB, CISF, and others. The military has deployed over 8,000 special forces to augment the additional 180 companies of CAPFs already deployed on Yatra duties.
After every five meters, fully armed troopers from various CAPF formations are stationed along the Yatra route. This extraordinary vigil has strengthened the confidence of pilgrims, encouraging larger numbers to arrive for the pilgrimage to the Himalayan cave shrine.
Authorities have made extensive multi-tier security arrangements for this year’s Amarnath Yatra, especially after the cowardly attack on April 22, in which Pakistan-backed terrorists killed 26 civilians after segregating them based on faith in the Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam.
An official said, “Another batch of 4,388 yatris left Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in two escorted convoys for the Valley today. The first escorted convoy of 64 vehicles, carrying 1,573 yatris, left at 3:30 a.m. for Baltal base camp, while the second convoy of 115 vehicles, carrying 2,815 yatris, left at 4 a.m. for Nunwan (Pahalgam) base camp,” the officials stated.
The Bhumi Pujan of ‘Chhari Mubarak’ (Lord Shiva’s Holy Mace) was performed at Pahalgam on July 10. The Chhari Mubarak was taken to Pahalgam by a group of seers, led by the sole custodian of the Chhari Mubarak, Mahant Swami Deependra Giri, from its seat at the Dashnami Akhara Building in Srinagar.
In Pahalgam, the Chhari Mubarak was taken to the Gauri Shankar temple, where the Bhumi Pujan was held. The Chhari Mubarak was then returned to its seat at the Dashnami Akhara building.
The final journey towards the cave shrine will begin on August 4 from Dashnami Akhara temple in Srinagar, and the Chhari Mubarak will reach the holy cave shrine on August 9, marking the official conclusion of the Yatra.
This year, the Yatra started on July 3 and will end after 38 days on August 9, coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan.
Yatris approach the holy cave shrine, situated 3,888 meters above sea level in the Kashmir Himalayas, either from the traditional Pahalgam route or the shorter Baltal route.
Those using the Pahalgam route pass through Chandanwari, Sheshnag, and Panchtarni to reach the cave shrine, covering a distance of 46 km on foot. This trek takes a pilgrim four days to reach the cave shrine. Those using the shorter Baltal route must trek 14 km to reach the cave shrine and return to the base camp the same day after having darshan.
No helicopter services are available to Yatris this year due to security reasons.
