Headlines
Over 1,000 pilgrims leave Jammu for Amarnath Yatra
Jammu, July 1
Over 1,000 pilgrims of the first
batch of this year's annual Amarnath Yatra left Jammu on Wednesday for
the high-altitude cave shrine in Kashmir Valley.
State Health
Minister Chowdhary Lal Singh flagged off a convoy of 34 vehicles
carrying 1,280 pilgrims from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas here towards the
valley.
This year's yatra to the 14,500 ft. high Himalayan cave
shrine in south Kashmir Anantnag district is spread over 59 days. It
will begin on Thursday.
Pilgrims use the south Kashmir Pahalgam and the north Kashmir Baltal routes to reach the cave shrine.
Two
base camps - one at Baltal and the other at Nunwan (Pahalgam) - have
been set up from where the pilgrims will begin an uphill mountain trek
to reach the cave.
The shrine houses an ice stalagmite structure
that waxes and wanes with the phases of the moon. Devotees believe the
ice stalagmite structure called the 'Lingam' symbolizes mythical powers
of Lord Shiva.
A three-tier security drawn from the army, the
central paramilitary forces and the state police have been deployed to
guard the yatra which has been attacked by separatist guerrillas in the
past.