Special prayers mark beginning of Amarnath Yatra

JAMMU : The top officials of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) on Friday performed ‘pratham pooja’ here on the occasion of Jayestha Purnima, signifying the commencement of the annual pilgrimage.

The pooja was jointly organised by SASB and Baba Amarnath and Buda Amarnath Yatri Niyas.

“It signifies commencement of the annual pilgrimage to the cave shrine of Shri Amarnath. The yatra, however, shall begin on July 21 for a shorter duration of 14 days and end on August 3,” sources said. The pilgrimage to the 3,880m-high holy cave shrine in south Kashmir will now be conducted from the shorter Baltal route only, they added.

While the Ganderbal deputy commissioner has already pressed men and machinery into clearing of the Baltal track, workers from the SASB will start leaving from Jammu on Monday for assisting in the track clearance and laying bailey bridges over streams.