Rains lash yatra area
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 13: Over 14,000 pilgrims paid obeisance of naturally formed Ice Lingam at Himalayan cave in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district on the 15th day of annual pilgrimage today while a fresh batch of 4669 Yatris left Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas early this morning from here for twin base camps on Nunwan Pahalgam in Anantnag district and Baltal -Sonamarg in Central Kahsmir’s Ganderbal district under tight security arrangements in a cavalcade of 183 light and heavy vehicles.
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Officials said that 14,255 Yatris drawn from different parts of country performed darshan at holy cave today despite heavy rains and hailstorm that lashed the yatra area in the afternoon. The yatra remained disrupted for some time and pilgrims enroute took shelter in langars and tents till weather improved.
Officials said with the performance of darshan by 14,255 pilgrims at cave shrine today, the total number of yatris visiting holy cave since the 52 day pilgrimage started on June 29 has touched 2,94,983.
Out of the 14,255 pilgrims who performed darshan today were 9390 male, 3012 female, 160 children, 187 Sadhus, two Sadhvis, and four others besides 1500 security force Jawans and service providers.
Officials said the pilgrims after performing darshan at cave shrine started their return journey towards the Baltal base camp and Panchtarni. Officials said 11,711 pilgrims reported at Domail after performing darshan at cave shrine today. They said thousands of pilgrims are staying at Baltal and Nunwan -Pahalgam base camps.
They said the pilgrims who reached these base camps yesterday from Jammu left for their onwards sojourn early this morning. They Yatris are enjoying the pilgrimage as the Government has made elaborate arrangements for the pilgrims enroute. The pilgrims are all praise for the Shrine Board for bettering facilities and widening of the track which earlier was prone to accidents.
Meanwhile, 16th batch of 4669 pilgrims who left the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas early this morning have reached the twin base camps of Baltal and Nunwan -Pahalgam by this evening where from they will proceed towards cave shrine early tomorrow morning.
These pilgrims included 3418 male, 1130 female, 23 children, 96 Sadhus and two Sadhvis. Among them 1630 preferred the shortest Baltal track while 3039 opted for the longest but traditional Chandanwari route.
Officials said there is no decline in the yatra rush as thousands of pilgrims are reaching J&K daily from different parts of the country to embark on holy pilgrimage.
The 52-day long yatra to the holy cave situated at an altitude of 3888 metres from sea level which started on June 29 will culminate on Shravan Purnima coinciding with Hindu festival of Raksha Bandhan on August 19.
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