Finance
Manoj Sinha, the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, flagged off the first batch of Amarnath Yatra pilgrims from Jammu city on Friday.
The first batch of over 3,300 pilgrims departed the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in 159 guarded vehicles for the base camps of Baltal and Pahalgam in the Kashmir Valley.
The 62-day Amarnath Yatra begins on Saturday and concludes on August 31st, coinciding with the Shravan Purnima festival.
The cave shrine may be reached by two routes: the shorter 13-kilometer-long Baltal route in Ganderbal district and the longer 43-kilometer-long Pahalgam route in Anantnag.
Those who use the Baltal path return to base camp the same day, whereas those who follow the conventional Pahalgam route need three to five days merely to reach the shrine.
The cave temple, located at an elevation of 3,888 meters above sea level, has an ice stalagmite structure known as the holy ‘Lingam,’ which, according to worshippers, represents the mythological powers of Lord Shiva.
The moon’s phases cause the ice stalagmite structure to wax and wane.
The army, paramilitary forces, and local police are managing foolproof three-tier security to ensure that the Yatra runs smoothly.
To avoid deaths from high altitude sickness, the Amarnath Yatra 2023 has been declared tobacco-free, and various community kitchens known as ‘Langars’ that run along the two paths have been advised not to serve any junk food or halwai items to pilgrims.
Bottled cold drinks have also been prohibited.
Source:OCN
