Srinagar, July 19 (IANS) The annual Amarnath Yatra is proceeding smoothly and peacefully as over 2.73 lakh pilgrims have had ‘darshan’ in the last 16 days with another batch of 6,365 Yatris leaving Jammu on Saturday for the Valley.

Officials said since the Yatra started on July 3, so far, over 2.73 lakh Yatris had ‘darshan’ inside the holy cave shrine.

“A fresh batch of 6,365 Yatris left Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas on Canal Road Jammu for the Valley today in two escorted convoys.

“The first escorted convoy of 92 vehicles left at 3.25 A.M. carrying 2,851 Yatris to Baltal base camp while the second escorted convoy of 119 vehicles left at 3.53 A.M. carrying 3,514 pilgrims to Pahalgam base camp”, officials said.

So far, 13 pilgrims have died during the Yatra due to natural causes including high altitude sickness causing cardio-vascular failure.

Bhumi Pujan of ‘Chhari Mubarak’ (Lord Shiva’s Holy Mace) was performed at Pahalgam on July 10. The Chhari Mubarak was taken to Pahalgam by a group of seers led by the sole custodian of the Chhari Mubarak, Mahant Swami Deependra Giri, from its seat at the Dashnami Akhara Building in Srinagar to Pahalgam.

In Pahalgam, the Chhari Mubarak was taken to the Gauri Shankar temple, where the Bhumi Pujan was held.

The Chhari Mubarak was then taken back to its seat at the Dashnami Akhara building. It will start its final journey towards the cave shrine from Dashnami Akhara temple in Srinagar on August 4 and will reach the holy cave shrine on August 9, marking the official conclusion of the Yatra.

Authorities have made extensive multi-tier security arrangements for this year’s Amarnath Yatra, as this takes place after the cowardly attack of April 22 in which Pakistan-backed terrorists killed 26 civilians after segregating them based on faith in the Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam.

An additional 180 companies of CAPFs have been brought in to augment the existing strength of the Army, BSF, CRPF, SSB and the local police.

This year, the Yatra started on July 3 and will end after 38 days on August 9, coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan.

Yatris approach the holy cave shrine situated 3,888 metres above sea level in the Kashmir Himalayas either from the traditional Pahalgam route or the shorter Baltal route.

Those using the Pahalgam route pass through Chandanwari, Sheshnag and Panchtarni to reach the cave shrine, covering a distance of 46 kms on foot. This trek takes a pilgrim four days to get to the cave shrine. And, those using the shorter Baltal route have to trek 14 km to reach the cave shrine and return to the base camp the same day after having darshan.

No helicopter services are available to Yatris this year due to security reasons.

The cave shrine houses an ice stalagmite structure that wanes and waxes with the phases of the moon. Devotees believe that the ice stalagmite structure symbolises the mythical powers of Lord Shiva.

–IANS

sq/rad