62,788 pilgrims leave from Jammu base camp; Chhari Mubarak reaches Pahalgam for rituals
Jammu: Taking the total number of pilgrims to 1,45,000 in the first week, officials said on Thursday that over 17,000 yatris offered prayers at the 3,880-metre-high Amarnath cave shrine in the South Kashmir Himalayas.
According to officials, 17,022 devotees paid obeisance at the sacred shrine on Thursday alone. This included 12,471 men, 4,000 women, 182 children, 253 personnel from security forces, and 113 sadhus and sadhvis.
Meanwhile, a fresh batch of 7,307 pilgrims left Jammu’s Bhagwati Nagar base camp early Thursday morning for the holy journey. The group included 5,534 men, 1,586 women, 25 children, and 162 sadhus and sadhvis. They were escorted under tight security arrangements in 284 vehicles between 3:15 am and 3:58 am.
Of these, 3,081 pilgrims opted for the shorter yet steeper Baltal route in Ganderbal district, while 4,226 took the traditional 48-km Pahalgam route in Anantnag.
Since the yatra began on July 3 from the twin tracks of Baltal and Pahalgam, over 1.28 lakh pilgrims have completed darshan. In total, 62,788 pilgrims have departed from the Jammu base camp since the first batch was flagged off by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on July 2.
Security remains heightened in view of the April 22 Pahalgam attack. More than 4 lakh people have registered online for the 38-day annual pilgrimage, which concludes on August 9. Last year, the pilgrimage saw over 5.10 lakh devotees.
Moreover, the ‘Chhari Mubarak’—the holy mace of Lord Shiva—reached Pahalgam on Thursday, marking the start of key traditional rituals associated with the Amarnath Yatra.
The sacred procession, led by Mahant Deependra Giri, began from the Dashnami Akhara in Srinagar and reached Chhari Vishram Sthal in Pahalgam.
As part of the day’s religious observances, Bhoomi Pujan, Navgrah Pujan, and the symbolic hoisting of the religious flag were performed.
Speaking on the occasion, Mahant Giri said that Ashad Purnima, also known as Guru Purnima, holds immense spiritual significance. “We began the morning with the ritual departure of the Chhari Mubarak from Srinagar and arrived at Pahalgam for the customary rites. A havan and communal meal for devotees will follow,” he said.
Last year, more than 5.1 lakh pilgrims performed darshan during the 52-day-long Yatra—one of the highest footfalls in recent years.
