More than three lakh devotees have embarked on the ongoing Amarnath Yatra over the past 16 days, despite facing intermittent rain and thundershowers along the pilgrimage routes.
Officials confirmed that a fresh batch of 4,875 Yatris departed for the Valley on Monday.
The challenging weather conditions have not dampened the spirits of the pilgrims.
Over 15,000 enthusiastic devotees performed ‘Darshan’ at the holy cave shrine on Sunday, demonstrating their unwavering dedication.
On Monday, two escorted convoys carrying 4,875 Yatris left the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu.
The first convoy, comprising 1,918 Yatris in 68 vehicles, departed at 3:05 AM for the north Kashmir Baltal base camp. The second convoy, with 2,957 Yatris in 94 vehicles, left at 3:50 AM for the south Kashmir Nunwan (Pahalgam) base camp.
Meanwhile, both convoys are likely to reach the Valley by midday.
Officials have emphasized that no Yatri vehicles are allowed beyond the two transit camps at Manigam in Ganderbal district and Mir Bazaar in Anantnag district after 5 PM to ensure safety and smooth movement.
The Holy Cave Shrine:
The Amarnath cave shrine, situated at an altitude of 3,888 meters in the Kashmir Himalayas, is famous for its ice stalagmite structure, which symbolizes the mythical powers of Lord Shiva.
Meanwhile, this natural formation waxes and wanes with the phases of the moon, attracting devotees from across the country.
Devotees can approach the shrine via two routes
- The traditional south Kashmir Pahalgam route, which is 48 km long and typically takes 4-5 days to complete, and
- The north Kashmir Baltal route, which is 14 km long and allows pilgrims to complete the journey within a day
On Monday, an additional 4,434 Yatris left Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in two escorted convoys.
The first convoy, with 1,721 pilgrims in 64 vehicles, departed at 3 AM for the Baltal base camp.
The second convoy, carrying 2,713 pilgrims in 101 vehicles, left at 3:35 AM for the Pahalgam base camp.
This year’s Amarnath Yatra is likely to conclude after 52 days on August 29, coinciding with the festivals of Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan, marking a significant spiritual event for the devotees.
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