Despite cloudy weather and forecast for rain, fresh batches of pilgrims on Friday left base camps for the holy Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas.
The pilgrimmage was progressing smoothly from both shortest Baltal and traditional Pahalgam routes despite cloudy weather, a yatra official told UNI today.
He said 7,021 pilgrims, including women, sadhus and sadhvis besides children, had darshan of the self made Ice-Shivlingam at the cave shrine yesterday.
Chanting ‘Har Har Mahadev’ and ‘Bam Bam Bholay’, fresh batch of pilgrims left Baltal base camp for the holy cave shrine early this morning. Pilgrims after covering the distance on foot are scheduled to reach the cave shrine this afternoon. Meanwhile, pilgrims who had darshan at the cave shrine on Thursday, have started their return journey towards Baltal base camp.
He said fresh batch of pilgrims also left Nunwan Pahalgam base camp for Chandanwari, the last motorable halting station on the traditional route. After night halt there, pilgrims will leave for next halting station on foot tomorrow.
Pilgrims, who had night halt at different halting stations on the traditional track, have also started their journey towards the cave shrine early this morning.
Since this morning, the pilgrims, who had night halt at nearby station, are reaching cave shrine.
A record 3.10 lakh pilgrims have darshan of the self-made ice-Shivlingam since the commencement of the annual pilgrimage from both shortest Baltal and traditional Pahalgam tracks from July 1.
The Yatra will conclude on August 15.
(UNI)
Fresh batches leave for holy cave, 3.10 lakh pilgrims have darshan so far
