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Amarnath yatra resumes after three days
Jammu:
The pilgrimage to the cave shrine of Amarnath has commenced today
after remaining stalled for three days due to heavy snowfall and incessant
rains. As per received information, around 2,000 pilgrims from Nunwan
(Pahalgam) base camp under the age group of 15 - 45 has been allowed by
the authorities to proceed their yatra to Amarnath cave, which is one
of the twelve holiest shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva, collectively known
as 'Jyotirlingas'. However, the elderly pilgrims have not been allowed
to resume their journey. According to officials, no other new batch from
Jammu has been permitted to reach base camps in Pahalgam and Baltal. Helicopters
of two private airliners are ferrying pilgrims to Amarnath cave and back
via the Baltal route. Thousands of troops have been deployed along a 30-mile
(50-km) mountain track. More than 5,00,000 pilgrims are expected to visit
the holy cave shrine this year. Last year, the pilgrimage remained incident-
free and more than four lakh devotees had a glimpse of the 'ice Shivalingam'
(phallic symbol of Lord Shiva). The lingam is formed naturally with an
ice stalagmite, which waxes and wanes with the moon.
-June 14, 2006
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