Tuesday, July 12, 2011

2.88 lakh perform darshan

An unprecedented number of 2,88 376 pilgrims performed darshan in holy cave of Shri Amarnath Ji situated at an altitude of 13,500 feet in deep Himalyas in South Kashmir district of Anantnag during first 13 days of Yatra which started on June 29.

According to a Yatra Officer, 2,58,000 pilgrims had performed darshan in holy cave till midnight yesterday and with additional 30,000 pilgrims paying obeisance in the cave shrine till late tonight this number has crossed 2.88 lakh. This is the highest number of pilgrims performing darshan of the holy Ice Lingam in a single day.

He said the unabated rush of pilgrims is continuing with thousands of yatris from other parts of country reaching the base camps of Nunwan –Pahalgam in Anantnag district and Baltal base camp in Ganderbal district of Central Kashmir daily.

He said there is total festivity and hustle and bustle at Nunwan and Baltal base camps with Yatris busy in purchasing the sticks, rain coats and other needy items for trekking.

The Yatra Officer said that the weather was pleasant on both the tracks to holy cave and the yatris were also in good spirits.

He said 11,685 pilgrims left Baltal base camp for holy cave early this morning while 10,769 left Nunwan-Chandanwari base camp. Besides thousands of yatris who were camping at Sheshnag and Panchtarni also left for their onwards sojourn this morning.

He said if this rush will continue till last day of darshan i.e. on Shrawan Purnima coinciding with Raksha Bandhan falling on August 13, the yatra will cross a record mark of nine lakh this year.

As per the available weather forecast for the next five days from July 12 to July 16, the sky is likely to remain cloudy in the Kashmir division.

According to the weather forecast provided by the Meteorological Department, the sky will remain generally cloudy on July 12 while it will remain partly cloudy on July 13 and 14. However, on July 15 and 16 light rain is expected at isolated places in Kashmir division.

R K Goyal, Chief Executive Officer of Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board (SASB) has once again advised the yatris to ascertain the up-to-date weather conditions in the yatra area before embarking on the pilgrimage. He said the details of weather forecast are also available on the website of the Indian Meteorological Department.

Meanwhile, a fresh batch of 3,280 pilgrims left Yatri Niwas at Bhagwati Nagar Jammu for holy cave early this morning under tight security arrangements. Comprising 2124 males, 808 females, 76 children and 272 Sadhus, the yatris left in a cavalcade of 131 vehicles. They had reached their destinations till last reports came in.

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