J&K : Jammu and Kashmir’s much-anticipated 62-day-long annual pilgrimage, the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra for 2023, has been temporarily suspended as of today, a week before the originally planned date of August 31. The suspension affects both pilgrimage routes, owing to a decrease in the number of pilgrims and ongoing efforts to repair and maintain the pilgrimage tracks. The Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) has communicated that due to a significant reduction in pilgrim arrivals and essential repairs being carried out by the Border Roads Organization (BRO) on vulnerable sections of the tracks, the journey along both routes to the Holy Cave is currently deemed inadvisable.
Nevertheless, the Chari Mubarak, a significant religious artifact, will proceed through the traditional Pahalgam route, marking the culmination of the Yatra on August 31st. Departing from Pahalgam on the morning of August 28, the Chari Mubarak is scheduled to reach Chandanwari by evening for an overnight halt. Subsequent stops include Sheshnag on August 29 and Panchtarni on August 30, with the final destination being the shrine on August 31.
According to reports from Akashvani Jammu correspondent, the annual pilgrimage to the 3,888-meter-high cave shrine in the southern Kashmir Himalayas commenced on July 1 via both the Pahalgam track in Anantnag district and the Baltal route in Ganderbal district. The pilgrimage progressed smoothly, witnessing devotees from across the country converging at the base camps to catch a glimpse of the naturally formed Ice-Shivlingam and to offer their prayers. This year’s Yatra has witnessed a remarkable turnout, with over 4.40 lakh pilgrims having visited the Holy Amarnathji Shrine so far. Pilgrim numbers began to taper off from July 23 onwards, coinciding with the natural melting of the Ice Shiv Lingam at the shrine.”
