Early Times Report
Srinagar, June 20 : Top officials of the Amarnath Yatra Shrine Board in Jammu and Kashmir have said that they will take a final call on when to begin the annual Amarnath Yatra pilgrimage after a second review of safety measures.
R.K Gupta, the CEO of the Shrine Board, told mediapersons here that he would review both tracks used by the devotees on June 23.
"There is too much snow in the area, and therefore, we have taken a decision that on the 21st and 22nd (June), I will review both routes to be undertaken by the pilgrims. And then, on the 23rd, we will again review the track, and decide whether the holy pilgrimage should start from 28th of June, especially from the Pahalgam," said Gupta.
Thousands of pilgrims undertake this journey to the shrine. The cave contains a Shiv Lingam.
Such is the faith of the devout Hindus that despite hostile environs, and inclement weather, records are broken year after year as far as the number of pilgrims as evident from the number of pilgrims increasing with each passing year.
Gupta added that the route from Baltal is much improved now and can be undertaken once the snow near the cave is reduced. "Our security forces have been deployed in the area and yesterday when we reviewed, we came to know that track is now much improved and it is good for the pilgrimage. But there is lot of snow in the area of holy cave around six foot of snow," Gupta said. This annual pilgrimage commences in the last week of June every year and concludes in early August. Undeterred by violence, Hindu pilgrims trekked daily through icy streams and frozen mountain passes to 3,800 metres (12,700 feet) high Amarnath cave shrine, to worship an ice stalagmite, believed to be the symbol of Lord Shiva. |
