News

Annual Amarnath pilgrimage will have delayed start

by IBNS 26 Jan 2015, 10:32 pm

Jammu, Jan 27 (IBNS): The centuries' old pilgrimage to the cave shrine of Lord Shiva popularly known as "Amarnath Yatra" situated in mighty Kashmir Himalayas will be delayed by almost a fortnight this year and will commence from 2nd July 2015.

The pilgrimage to the cave shrine of Lord Shiva attracts pilgrims from all over the country especially West Bengal, Maharashtra and Gujarat. Lakhs of pilgrims undertake ardous treks to visit this cave shrine.

The pilgrimage to the Cave shrine this year has been belayed by over a fortnight following the recommendations of the Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Committee which had been set up to advise the Board regarding the duration and schedule of future Yatras.

"As there was heavy snow accumulation on the Chandanwari-Holy Cave track, particularly on Sheshnag-Panjtarni stretch in 2014 which had delayed the commencement of Yatra on the Pahalgam route, the decision was taken to start the annual pilgrimage only from 2nd July, 2014," a J&K government official release said here following the 28th Board Meeting of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board which was held at Raj Bhavan Jammu under the chairmanship of  N. N. Vohra, Governor of Jammu & Kashmir.