The Amarnath Yatra resumed on Thursday after a day’s suspension, with the number of Yatris who had ‘darshan’ at the cave shrine crossing 4.70 lakh since it started on July 3.
SRINAGAR — The Amarnath Yatra resumed on Thursday after a day’s suspension, with the number of Yatris who had ‘darshan’ at the cave shrine crossing 4.70 lakh since it started on July 3.
Officials said the Shri Amarnath Yatra resumed from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu on Thursday after remaining suspended for a day due to security reasons on the 7th anniversary of the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A.
A fresh group of 1,801 pilgrims, which officials said was the 28th batch, left the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu at 2.45 a.m. for the Baltal base camp in Kashmir under tight security vigil.
No convoy was dispatched for Pahalgam base camp as the Yatra continues from the Baltal base camp side, officials said.
The batch comprised 1,347 men, 351 women, 89 sadhus and 14 sadhvis, travelling in 74 vehicles.
Since this year’s Yatra started on July 3, more than 4.71 lakh Yatris had darshan inside the holy cave shrine situated 3880 metres above sea level in the Kashmir Himalayas. Security remains tight and widespread along the routes.
The cave shrine houses an ice stalagmite structure that waxes and wanes with the phases of the moon. Devotees believe the ice stalagmite structure symbolises the divine power of Lord Shiva.
The longer and the traditional route from Nunwan (Pahalgam) base camp takes pilgrims around four days to reach the cave shrine. Those using the shorter Baltal base camp in Ganderbal district return to the base camp the same day after having darshan inside the holy cave shrine.
Since authorities have declared the routes beyond Baltal and Pahalgam as ‘No-fly zones’ due to security reasons, no helicopter service has been available to the Yatris this year.
The 57-day annual pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine is scheduled to conclude on August 28, coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan festivals.