Despite terror attack, over 2.6 lakh devotees paid obeisance during 40-day pilgrimage
The last batch of pilgrims performed the final puja at the holy Amarnath cave shrine on the auspicious occasion of Shravan Purnima (Raksha Bandhan), marking the conclusion of this year’s yatra.
The 40-day-long yatra started on June 29 on the occasion of Purshotam Purnima from the Chandanwari and Baltal routes and concluded today with a special puja at the cave with the holy mace (Chhari Mubarak). After performing the daylong puja, devotees started their return journey towards Panjtarni for a halt.
Umang Narula, Chief Executive Officer, and Jitendra Kumar Singh, Additional CEO, Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, prayed at the holy cave for sustained peace, harmony, progress and prosperity in the state.
Moreover, despite the terror attack on the yatra and a tragic road accident this year, devotees showed strong faith and over 2.6 lakh pilgrims paid obeisance at holy cave shrine, located at an altitude of 3,880 m in south Kashmir.
“Attacks or accidents cannot let down our faith in Lord Shiva and the holy Amarnath shrine. We were coming, we are coming and we will keep coming to pay obeisance at the cave shrine every year,” said Randhir Kumar, a pilgrim from Delhi.
“The yatra has become smoother and easy for pilgrims in the last five-six years. The management of the shrine board is remarkable, which is encouraging more pilgrims to visit the shrine,” he added.
This year’s Amarnath yatra also witnessed advanced technology being used by the authorities to ensure safety and security of the pilgrims, who reach from distant parts of the country and abroad, to pay obeisance.
Meanwhile, the pilgrims, who returned after performing the yatra, were all praise for the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) for providing adequate facilities this year.
“I performed the yatra for the first time this year, but I am surprised and delighted to see the arrangements made by the shrine board at such a difficult terrain,” Ravi Shrivatsva, a pilgrim from Lucknow, said.
Governor NN Vohra, who is also the chairman of the shrine board, had made it sure to maintain effective coordination among different agencies to provide all facilities for the Amarnath yatra.
The Governor had himself offered prayers inside the cave shrine marking the formal start of the pilgrimage on June 29 this year.
Governor chairs review meeting
Governor NN Vohra, chairman of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, chaired a review meeting with Umang Narula, Chief Executive Officer, and other officers concerned on Monday evening. The CEO informed that as many as 2,60,003 lakh yatris paid obeisance at the holy cave shrine during this year’s pilgrimage. The Chief Executive Officer even inspected sanitation and cleanliness at the holy cave, Panjtarni and Baltal camps. The Governor directed him to ensure that no camp director leaves unless the cleaning work had been completed at all the locations as per the approved Sanitation Action Plan for 2017.
