Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today visited the holy cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir Himalayas and performed 'pratham pooja' there on the formal commencement of the 59-day pilgrimage.
Singh was accompanied by Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra.
The Home Minister, who is on a two-day visit to the state, flew to the cave shrine early in the morning and performed the special prayers, officials said.
Singh also interacted with the pilgrims at the cave shrine and took stock of the arrangements for the yatris, they said.
The Home Minister arrived here yesterday and took a review of the security situation in the state.
While the security situation in general was reviewed in the meeting with senior security officials and civil administration in the state, focus was on the smooth conduct of the yatra.
Later, the Home Minister paid obeisance at the holy Hazratbal shrine along the banks of Dal Lake here.
