1,282 pilgrims leave Jammu for Pahalgam, Baltal camps

Amit Khajuria

Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 1

Amidst chanting of ‘Vedic Mantras’ and ‘Bam Bam Bhole’, the first batch of 1,282 pilgrims, including 144 sadhus, left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in 33 vehicles escorted by security forces today for the holy shrine of Shri Amarnath in south Kashmir.

Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh along with Member of Parliament Jugal Kishore, MoS Education Priya Sethi along with senior government officers flagged off the first batch of the annual Amarnath yatra. They performed a traditional ‘pooja’ before the flag-off.

The batch comprising 900 men, 225 women,13 children, 143 sadhus and 1 sadhvi, in 33 vehicles, including 27 buses and six LMVs, left Jammu early on Friday morning for Chandanwari at Pahalgam and Baltal in south Kashmir.

After flagging off the first batch, the Deputy CM said, “All necessary arrangements regarding security, basic amenities, medical facilities and other things have been made for the smooth conduct of the yatra. “

“Security of the pilgrims is always a main concern for the government, but I think the situation has improved in the state and all pilgrims are safe in Jammu and Kashmir,” he added.

The pilgrims of the first batch started their journey today from Jammu as ‘bhajans’ in praise of Lord Shiva were sung.

Karuna, a college student from Ghaziabad, said, “I am visiting the shrine for the first time and I am very excited to go there and get the blessings of Baba Barfani (ice lingam).”

Many of the pilgrims were going to visit the shrine for the first time, but there were dozens who were regular visitors of this annual feature.

“I am coming here for the seventh time and will keep coming till Lord Shiva blesses me with health. This time four new people of my locality have joined me and now we are 15 people in our group,” said Kamal Kumar from Gwalior.

“There is no fear in our mind and the true disciple of Lord Shiva need not worry about anything. ‘Bhole baba’ will take care of us,” he added.

Briefing about the security arrangements of the pilgrims, Sunil Gupta, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Jammu, said, “We have deployed sufficient number of troops for the security of the pilgrims. Special attention has been given to the highway and Yatri Niwas and all the yatra-related activities are under strict vigil of the security forces.”

The Amarnath yatra will commence from Chandanwari and Baltal in south Kashmir on the auspicious occasion of Purshotam Purnima on Saturday as per the Hindu calendar.It will conclude on August 18 on Shravan Purnima (Raksha Bandhan).