In the Kashmir Valley, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha visited Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra Base Camp at Baltal in central Kashmir's Ganderbal district yesterday and reviewed the arrangements made for the sacred pilgrimage.
After interacting with the devotees, Manoj Sinha said Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra holds great relevance in our tradition and is a symbol of peace, harmony and inclusive growth. He said the congregation of seekers and keepers of divine wisdom from across the country are here to celebrate one of the oldest spiritual traditions of India.
Speaking to media persons there, the Lieutenant Governor said the auspicious occasion of holy Yatra and the warm hospitality of the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir have ensured unprecedented increase in the tourism influx in the Union Territory this year. He said the pilgrims coming for the pilgrimage will return to their respective states as Brand Ambassadors of new and aspiring Jammu Kashmir.
Akashvani Correspondent report: The annual pilgrimage of Shri Amarnathji is going on smoothly and more and more devotees drawn from various parts of the country are reaching daily in the Kashmir Valley. Elaborate security arrangements have been put in place for the well-being of the Yatris.
Over eighteen thousand Yatris have already paid their obeisance to the naturally formed ice shivlingam of lord Shiva at the holy cave shrine of Shri Amarnathji in south Kashmir Himalayas till last evening. Yesterday only, about ten thousand five hundred devotees paid their obeisance at the holy cave shrine. This year’s pilgrimage of Shri Amarnathji assumes colossal significance as there are two ‘Shravan’ months this year and this extraordinary astronomical event has taken place after a gap of nineteen years.
Meanwhile, as per the age-old tradition, rituals associated with the Yatra namely ‘Bhoomi-Pujan’, ‘Navgrah Pujan’ and ‘Dhawajarohan’ connected with the traditional commencement of annual pilgrimage of Chhari-Mubarak of Swami Amarnath Ji shall be performed at Pahalgam in south Kashmir's Anantnag district on the auspicious occasion of ‘Ashad-Purnima’ (Vyas-Purnima) today.
