Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha today took part in Shri Amarnathji Chhari pujan in presence of Deependra Giri, Mahant Charri‐Mubarak Shri Amarnathji, at Mahadev Gir Dashnami Akhada here.
The Chhari-Pujan was performed on the auspicious occasion of Shravan Shukal Panchami, and is one of the important rituals prior to the culmination of the annual pilgrimage of Shri Amarnathji Shrine, an official spokesman said.
While performing the Chhari Mubarak Pujan, Lt Governor prayed for sustained peace, progress and prosperity in J&K and well-being of people, he said.
He further said that while speaking on the sidelines of Pujan, the Lt Governor said that over three lakh pilgrims have visited Shri Amarnathji Shrine, and advised the devotees to visit the Holy Shrine before August 5, as inclement weather is expected from the second week of this month.
Officially the Yatra is scheduled to end on August 11 on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan.
“There has been heavy rainfall in many areas. I would like to urge all devotees to visit (the Amarnath Shrine) before August 05, because as per predictions the weather will turn more inclement afterwards,” said the LG.
Earlier on July 01, very heavy localized rainfall in the holy cave area of Amarnath resulted in heavy discharge (flash flood) of water in a stream adjoining the holy cave, following which the route to Amarnath was damaged, and the Yatra had to be halted for some time.
Four Mi-17V5 and four Cheetal helicopters of the Indian Air Force were also deployed for rescue and relief efforts at the Amarnath shrine.
The Yatra began on June 29, from Jammu amid tight security arrangements made by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) along with the army and the local police.
The pilgrimage to the 3,880-metre-high cave shrine of Lord Shiva, located in the upper reaches of the Himalayas, is held from the twin routes of Pahalgam and Baltal.
Last month, Minister of State for Home (MoS) Nityanand Rai had informed Lok Sabha Sabha that at least 15 people lost their lives due to flash flood, but no individual has been reported missing during the Amarnath Yatra on July 01, 2022.
