40-day Amarnath yatra to begin from June 29

Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 16

This year’s annual pilgrimage to the holy Amarnath cave shrine of Lord Shiva, nestled in south Kashmir Himalayas, will commence on June 29. The 40-day pilgrimage will conclude on Shravan Purnima (Raksha Bandhan) on August 7.

The decision in this regard was taken today by the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) at its 32nd meeting in New Delhi. The meeting was presided over by Governor NN Vohra, who is the Chairman of the board.

The meeting was attended by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Dr Kapila Vatsyayan, Dr Ved Kumari Ghai, Bhajan Sopori, Vijay Dhar, Dr Devi Prasad Shetty, DC Raina, all members of the board. Besides, PK Tripathi, Chief Executive Officer, and Jitendra Kumar Singh, Additional Chief Executive Officer of the shrine board, also attended the meeting.

Regarding the duration and date of commencement of the yatra, keeping in view its foremost concern of safeguarding the safety and security of the pilgrims, the board decided that a 40-day yatra would begin on June 29 this year, an auspicious day of “Skandshasthi” as per the Hindu calendar and conclude on Shravan Purnima (Raksha Bandhan) on August 7.

The board directed that the CEO should arrange a special ‘pooja’ at Chandanwari on the day of Jyesth Purnima, which falls on June 9 this year, to invoke the blessings of Lord Shiva for the smooth and safe conduct of the pilgrimage.

The board deliberated at length regarding the number of pilgrims who would be allowed to register, date-wise and route-wise, for this year’s yatra.

Considering the carrying capacity of the existing tracks and other available infrastructure in the yatra area, the board decided that 7,500 pilgrims per day per route, excluding pilgrims who travel by helicopters, would be allowed to register for the pilgrimage.

The board also noted the steps taken by the CEO for the registration of pilgrims through 433 designated branches of Punjab National Bank, J&K Bank and YES Bank which are located in 32 states and UTs. It directed him to take all required steps to commence advance registration of pilgrims with effect from March 1.

It further directed the CEO to repeatedly publicise, through the electronic and print media, the need for the pilgrims to secure the prescribed compulsory health certificate issued by the doctors or hospitals nominated by the state or UT in which he or she resides. Only after getting it, the pilgrims can go for advance registration from the nearest designated bank which would issue a pilgrimage permit which is valid for his journey on the specified date and the specified route.

The board also advised the CEO to send out a fresh appeal to all potential pilgrims to consult their doctors before embarking on the pilgrimage.