Jammu, Jul 29: The Budha Amarnath pilgrimage in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch border district began on Monday with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha flagging off the first batch of more than 1,000 pilgrims from Jammu amid tight security arrangements, which reached Poonch in the evening.
Sinha expressed hope that a large number of pilgrims would visit the Budha Amarnath temple in Poonch to pay obeisance to Lord Shiva.
Amid ritualistic ‘pooja’, ‘shankhnaad’, and chanting of “Bum Bum Bhole”, a convoy of more than 1,000 pilgrims, guarded by a multi-tier security escort, was flagged off by Lieutenant Governor Sinha from Bhagwati Nagar here early Monday morning.
The 12-day-long pilgrimage, which was started by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad in 2005 to the Himalayan temple of Budha Amarnath in the Poonch district, will conclude on August 7.
“As you have seen, more than 1,000 pilgrims left for the Budha Amarnath Yatra from here today. Pilgrims from various corners of the country have arrived and are taking part in this sacred journey. The Jammu and Kashmir administration has made excellent arrangements for the yatra. Security measures have been taken to ensure their safety. There has been an improvement in facilities for the Budha Amarnath Yatra,” Sinha told reporters soon after flagging off the yatra.
The lieutenant governor extended his best wishes to all the pilgrims for a safe and spiritually fulfilling journey.
“The sacred journey to the abode of Mahadev is an enlightening experience. I strongly believe this pilgrimage is the greatest alchemy and unveils secrets of life before the devotees,” the lieutenant governor said.
Sinha appreciated the meticulous work done by Baba Amarnath and Budha Amarnath Yatri Nyas, tourism department, district administration, other stakeholders and organisations serving langar. All the arrangements have been made for the annual pilgrimage and Budha Amarnath Ji Mela, the annual festival, he said.
He further said that more than 3.77 lakh devotees have completed the Amarnath Yatra so far, and expressed gratitude to the Jammu and Kashmir administration for its “dedicated efforts” towards the convenience of devotees.
“I hope a large number of pilgrims from across the country will come to Budha Amarnath and pray to Lord Shiva for the prosperity of themselves, the nation, and Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
Meanwhile, over 9,000 pilgrims paid obeisance to Lord Shiva at the holy cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir Himalayas on Monday, taking the total number of yatris to 3.86 lakh, officials said.
A total of 9,118 pilgrims had darshan on Monday, the officials said.
They said the yatris included 6,598 males, 1,702 females, a transgender, 93 children, 51 sadhus, three sadhvis and 670 security forces personnel.
So far, a total of 3,86,198 pilgrims have visited the cave shrine since the yatra started on July 3, the officials added.
Earlier in the day, Braving heavy rains, more than 1600 pilgrims left Jammu on Monday for the twin base camps of the cave shrine of Amarnath in the south Kashmir Himalayas amid tight security arrangements.
Escorted by CRPF and police personnel, the 23rd batch of 1,635 pilgrims, which included 1,303 men, 286 women, four children, and 42 sadhus and sadhvis, left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp here in 59 vehicles for the twin base camps in Kashmir between 3:25 am and 4:00 am, the officials said.
The first convoy, carrying 374 pilgrims in 17 vehicles, left for the shorter but steeper 14-km Baltal route in the Ganderbal district, followed by the second convoy of 1,262 pilgrims in 62 vehicles, who are undertaking the yatra via the 48-km traditional Pahalgam route in the Anantnag district, they said.
Chanting “Bum Bum Bhole” and ”Har Har Mahdev” with enthusiasm, pilgrims braved heavy rains while leaving for the cave shrine.
With this, a total of 14,12,95 pilgrims have departed from the Jammu base camp for the valley since July 2, when Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off the first batch.
