Asks pilgrims to visit cave shrine before Aug 5, cites inclement weather
STATE TIMES NEWS
SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha on Tuesday took part in Shri Amarnathji Chhari pujan in presence of Deependra Giri, Mahant Charri?Mubarak Shri Amarnathji, at Mahadev Gir Dashnami Akhada here.
The Chhari-Pujan was performed on the auspicious occasion of Shravan Shukal Panchami, and is one of the important rituals prior to the culmination of the annual pilgrimage of Shri Amarnathji Shrine.
While performing the Chhari Mubarak Pujan, Lt Governor prayed for sustained peace, progress and prosperity in J&K and well-being of people. Sinha appealed to intending Amarnath pilgrims to visit the holy cave shrine before August 5, in view of a forecast of inclement weather and more rains after that.
The annual Amarnath Yatra will officially conclude on August 11.
“Over three lakh devotees from across the country have had Baba’s darshan. Because of rising temperatures, Baba doesn’t have that form, and the nature is also not supporting it.
“There has been heavy rainfall in many areas. I would like to request the devotees across the country, who are yet to have darshan, to come before August 5 as more rains are predicted after that,” Sinha said.
The LG was speaking to reporters here after performing pooja of the Chhari Mubarak — the saffron robed holy mace of Lord Shiva — at Akhara Building on the occasion of Nag Panchami.
Notably, 15 pilgrims lost their lives and 55 others were injured in flash floods due to heavy rainfall near the cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas on July 8.
The annual yatra — which took place this year after a gap of about three years — started on June 30.
Meanwhile, a batch of 570 pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp here this morning to pay obeisance at the 3,880-metre-high cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir Himalayas, officials said.
The 43-day Yatra began on June 30 from the twin routes — the traditional 48-km from Nunwan in Pahalgam in south Kashmir’s Anantnag, and the 14-km shorter but steep Baltal route in Ganderbal district of central Kashmir.
The 33rd batch of pilgrims left in a convoy of 21 vehicles amid heavy security of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), they said.
According to officials, 346 pilgrims heading for Baltal were the first to leave the Jammu base camp in 10 vehicles followed by the second convoy of 11 vehicles carrying 224 pilgrims for Pahalgam.
The number of pilgrims visiting the cave shrine is drastically falling as the yatra is inching towards its conclusion as well as poor weather conditions, officials said.
A total of 1,43,693 pilgrims have left from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp for the Valley since June 29.
The yatra is scheduled to end on August 11 on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan.
A total of 36 people, mostly pilgrims, have died during till now, excluding 15 pilgrims, who died in the flashfloods at Amarnath cave shrine on July 1.
