59-day Amaranth Yatra to begin from July 2

The Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) headed by Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra on Sunday decided that this year’s pilgrimage to the cave shrine would start from July 2 and the duration would be for 59 days.

“The 28th meeting of the SASB under the chairmanship of Governor N N Vohra was held today and it was decided that keeping in view the safety and security of the pilgrims, this year’s Yatra would start on July 2,” an official Raj Bhawan spokesman said here today.

“The board relied upon the approach set out by the Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Committee, which had been set up to advise the Board regarding the duration and schedule of future Yatras. The committee observed that last year’s Yatra could not commence before July 2 because of snow,” he said.

He said that keeping in view of the safety and security of the pilgrims, the committee this year advised to commence the Yatra from July 2.

“The board agreed to the recommendation of the committee and decided to start the Yatra from July 2,” he said.

He said that this year the Yatra would be of 59 days duration.

“It was decided that the CEO shall arrange a special Pooja on Jyesth Purnima, on June 2. The Pooja shall take place at any suitable location in the Yatra area to invoke the blessings of Lord Shiva for the smooth and safe conduct of the pilgrimage,” he said.

Considering the present carrying capacity of the tracks and other available infrastructure in the Yatra area, the Board decided that 7,500 pilgrims, excluding those who would travel by helicopters to Panjtarni, would be allowed to register for the Yatra 2015 on daily basis.

“There would be about 16,000 pilgrims on the tracks every day. The Board further decided that the registration process should commence from March 1, 2015,” he said.