Amarnath Yatra resumes via Baltal route

Amarnath yatra today resumed from the shorter Baltal route after remaining suspended for the past three days due to inclement weather, CEO of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) P K Tripathi said here.
"The Yatra via the Baltal route, which had been interrupted for the past nearly three days because of the blockage of Srinagar-Sonamarg and the Sonamarg-Neelgrath roads due to torrential rains and massive landslides, has since resumed," he said.
The meeting was convened by Governor N N Vohra, who is also the chairman of the SASB, to review the status of the pilgrimage which commenced on July 2 from the twin routes of Baltal in Ganderbal district and Pahalgam in Anantnag district. The yatra is scheduled to end on August 29.

Tripathi said as many as 2,44,855 pilgrims had paid obeisance at the 3,880 meter high Holy Cave, housing the naturally formed ice-shivlingam, till last evening.
"As of today afternoon it has crossed 2.5 lakh mark," he added.
The yatra was suspended from 16-km Baltal route on Friday after a massive landslide damaged the road leading to the base camps but continued from the traditional 45-km Pahalgam route.

Meanwhile, Mahant Deependra Giri - the custodian of the holy mace popularly known as "Chhari Mubarak" said the religious yatra will commence later this month with special prayers at Pahalgam.
"As per age old tradition, rituals namely 'Bhoomi-Pujan', 'Navgrah Pujan' and 'Dhawajarohan' connected with commencement of annual Chhari-Mubarak Swami Amarnathji Yatra shall be performed at Pahalgam on auspicious occasion of 'Ashad-Purnima' (Vyas-Purnima) that falls on July 31, this year," Giri said in a statement here.

He said after performing the 'Chhari-Pujan' at Dashnami Akhara here on 'Nag-Panchami', falling on August 19, the holy mace would be carred to Swami Amarnath Ji to have 'Darshan' on 'Shravan-Purnima' (Agusut 29), marking the end of official 59-day yatra.