Yatris leave for Buddha Amarnath

Ist batch of yatris leaves for Buddha

Amarnath amidst tight security

Amid tight security arrangements, the first batch of 250 pilgrims was today flagged off for Buddha Amarnath, close to Line of Control in border district of Poonch from the Yatri Niwas Bhagwati Nagar base camp here.

"The two-week-long yatra, which would conclude on Purnima (full moon) falling on August 13, was flagged off this morning by the Divisional Commissioner Dr Pawan Kotwal at 0530 hrs for Poonch amid tight security arrangements".

The yatris left the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas here in a cavalcade of 15 vehicles.

Besides the civil and police officers the flagging off ceremony was attended by Dr Surinder Jain national secretary and spokesperson VHP, president Baba Amarnath and Buddha Amarnath Yatri Niyas, Surinder Mohan Aggarwal, leaders of Bajrang Dal and various social and religious organizations.

The first batch of 250 pilgrims comprising 184 men, 56 women and 10 children left the base camp to pay obeisance at the shrine of Buddha Amarnath in Mandi township of Poonch district.

The yatra was given a rousing reception at Nowshera, Rajouri and Poonch.

A large number of people gathered in these towns to receive the Yatris.

At Rajouri the VHP and Bajrang Dal activists served lunch to them.

The yatra after a night stay at Poonch will leave for darshan of Buddha Amarnath early tomorrow morning.

At Poonch thousands of people drawn from all walks of life received the yatra. They were led by Deputy Commissioner Poonch, Ajeet Kumar Sahu, MLC Jhangir Mir, SSP, Ashqoor Wani and president Sanatan Dharam Sabha Poonch, Manjit Kumar Sharma.

Earlier talking to reporters at Jammu Dr Surinder Jain said that BD had taken the onus of running this yatra in 2005 after it was stopped due to militants threat.

He expressed the hope that the yatra will become more popular throughout country like holy Amarnath yatra by and by. He said the BD will also revive the yatras of other Hindu shrines in the State.