Jammu: A fresh batch of more than 7,300 pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp here to join the annual Amarnath pilgrimage in the south Kashmir Himalayas on Thursday morning, officials said.
About 1.28 lakh pilgrims have paid obeisance at the holy cave shrine, located at a height of 3,880 metres, since the commencement of the 38-day annual yatra from the twin tracks of Pahalgam in Anantnag district and Baltal in Ganderbal district on July 3, the officials said.
According to the officials, the ninth batch of 7,307 pilgrims — 5,534 men, 1,586 women, 25 children and 162 sadhus and sadhvis — left in 284 vehicles between 3:15 am and 3:58 am amid tight security.
While 3,081 pilgrims left in 137 vehicles for the shorter but steeper 14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal district, 4,226 pilgrims left in 147 vehicles via the 48-km traditional Pahalgam route in Anantnag district.
With this, a total of 62,788 pilgrims have departed from the Jammu base camp for the valley since July 2, when Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off the first batch.
The Bhagwati Nagar base camp has been placed under a multi-tier security cover in the aftermath of the April 22 Pahalgam attack, which claimed 26 lives.
More than 4 lakh people have registered online for the pilgrimage so far. The yatra will conclude on August 9.
Last year, more than 5.10 lakh pilgrims paid obeisance at the cave shrine, which houses a naturally formed ice lingam.
Chhari Mubarak rituals begin at Pahalgam base camp
Special prayers were held on Thursday at the Pahalgam base camp of the Amarnath Yatra, marking the beginning of the annual pilgrimage as rituals for ‘Chhari Mubarak’, the saffron-robed holy mace of Lord Shiva, commenced.
“During this auspicious occasion of Ashad Purnima (Vyas Purnima), various rituals were performed, including chanting Vedic hymns, bhoomi-pujan, navgrah-pujan, chhari-pujan, and dhawajarohan,” Mahant Deependra Giri said.
He emphasised that these rituals mark the commencement of the annual pilgrimage of Chhari-Mubarak Swami Amarnath Ji.
The custodian highlighted the importance of these ceremonies as preparations for the main pilgrimage to the sacred cave shrine.
Over 17,000 pilgrims visit Amarnath shrine Thursday
Over 17,000 pilgrims on Thursday paid obeisance at the holy cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir Himalayas, taking the total number of pilgrims to 1,45,000 in the first week, officials said here.
A total of 17,022 pilgrims paid obeisance at the 3,880-metre high holy cave shrine on the Himalayas in south Kashmir on Wednesday, the officials said.
The pilgrims included 12,471 men, 4,000 women, 182 children, 253 security forces personnel and 113 sadhus and sadhvis.
