Murmu performs first prayers at Amarnath cave, prays for peace

TNN Bureau. Updated: 7/6/2020 11:07:16 AM Front Page

Advisor Bhatnagar, DGP review security arrangements

SRINAGAR: Sounding the beguile for the commencement of Shri Amarnath Yatra later this month, Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu on Sunday attended the first 'Aarti' at the Amarnath Cave temple , even as special prayers held on the occasion of 'Ashad-Purnima' -- marking the traditional commencement of the annual pilgrimage in the south Kashmir Himalayas.
As reported by this newspaper, Murmu reached the cave early morning and performed Pratham Aarti. The Amarnath Shrine Board on Sunday made special arrangements, and for the first time live telecasted the aarti and darshan of Lord Amarnath.
Murmu and his family was accompanied by senior officers of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), including CEO Bipul Pathak, Additional CEO AK Soni, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Pandurang K Pole, besides other senior functionaries of civil and police administration.
Murmu, who is also the chairman of the Shrine Board, performed a special ‘pooja’ (prayers) at the cave shrine and wished for peace in Jammu and Kashmir.
Wishing for an early end to coronavirus pandemic which so far has infected 8429 persons in Jammu and Kashmir, the Lieutenant Governor said the Shrine Board has decided to conduct the yatra via Baltal route only in view of the prevailing circumstances.
“We have readied the Baltal route for the pilgrims who are expected to visit in limited numbers only due to this pandemic,” Murmu said.
Expressing happiness over the decision of the Shrine Board to broadcast a live telecast of Amarnath Aarti, twice a day, Murmu said it would benefit the pilgrims across the world.
“A large number of pilgrims may not be able to visit the shrine this year. The live telecast of Amarnath Aarti will benefit all such devotees,” he said.
The 42-day yatra was scheduled to commence from the twin tracks of Pahalgam in Anantnag and Baltal in Ganderbal on June 23 but was delayed due to the outbreak of the pandemic.
Even as the administration is yet to announce dates for the Yatra, the special prayers held on the occasion of 'Ashad-Purnima' have marked the traditional commencement of the annual pilgrimage.
"Chanting Vedic hymn, 'Bhoomi-Pujan', 'Navgrah-Pujan', 'Chhari-Pujan' and 'Dhawajarohan' ceremonies were performed at Pahalgam today on the auspicious occasion of 'Ashad-Purnima' that marks the commencement of annual pilgrimage of Swami Amarnath Ji, traditionally," the custodian of the 'Chhari-Mubarak' (holy mace of Lord Shiva) said in a statement here.
He said these are the important rituals prior to the main course of the annual pilgrimage, which is likely to start later this month.
"The sound of conch shell reverberated the whole atmosphere. Keeping in view the COVID-19 pandemic, only selected number of Sadhus accompanied the holy mace from Dashnami Akhara Srinagar to Pahalgam," he said.
The custodian said COVID-19 is an extraordinary situation and extraordinary measures need to be taken to meet this challenge.
People of Jammu and Kashmir irrespective of their caste, creed or religion have been cooperating, assisting and encouraging the pilgrims and Sadhus who come here from across the country and even abroad for this annual pilgrimage," he said.
He said prayers were also offered at the historic Martand Temple in Mattan area of the Anantnag district.
While the government has not yet announced formal dates for the commencement of the yatra, Chief Secretary B V R Subrahmanyam on Saturday said keeping in view the prevailing circumstances, the pilgrimage this year would have to be undertaken in a restricted manner.
While reviewing the preparations for the yatra, the chief secretary said a maximum of 500 pilgrims only would be allowed per day by road from Jammu towards the cave shrine.
The standard operating procedures (SOPs) for testing of persons entering the Union Territory would also be applicable to the intending Amarnath pilgrims which means all yatris upon their entry will have to be sampled, tested and quarantined till they are reported to be negative.
The Yatri Niwas at Bhagwati Nagar here would be used as the base camp for the upcoming pilgrimage and is being prepared as the base camp with all necessary security arrangements, officials informed today.
The Yatri Niwas, which served as the base camp for the annual pilgrimage in Jammu, was initially turned into administrative quarantine in March and later upgraded to a 500-bedded COVID care centre with all the required facilities to lower the pressure on the hospitals. The officials said the sprawling complex would be utilised as the base camp during the yatra period and later turned back into the COVID care centre.
Meanwhile, Advisor to Murmu, R.R Bhatnagar and the Director General of Police Dilbag Singh also visited the holy cave at Baltal today to review the security arrangements for the upcoming yatra.
The advisor and the DGP first visited Shri Amarnath Ji cave where they offered prayers and on their return chaired joint officers meeting at Baltal, an official spokesman said.
Advisor Bhatnagar stressed for enhanced coordination among the forces for smooth conduct of Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra. He emphasized for identifying the sensitive places and strengthening the security grid. The Advisor urged the officers to work with synergy to ensure successful and smooth conduct of Yatra 2020.
Addressing the meeting , the DGP directed the officers that fine tuned plans should be put in action in such a way that required timelines as per Amarnath Yatra schedule are met well in time and adequate arrangements are provided for the Yatra. He said that whatever support in the shape of logistics and manpower is required have been placed at their disposal for smooth conduct of the yatra.


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