5000 pilgrims perform darshan on Day 1 of Amarnath Yatra

Although more than 10,000 devotees left from the base camp for the holy cave shrine, more than 4,600 of them were turned back from Brarimarg as the route has a carrying capacity of only 5,000 persons per day, official sources said.

Chants of "Bum, Bum Bole" and "Baba Amarnath Ki Jai" rented the air as 5380 lucky devotees of Lord Shiva made their way to the holy cave shrine of Shri Amarnathji in South Kashmir Himalayas from this shorter route, which was thrown open to pilgrims today. Although more than 10,000 devotees left from the base camp for the holy cave shrine, more than 4,600 of them were turned back from Brarimarg as the route has a carrying capacity of only 5,000 persons per day, official sources said. Braving inclement weather along the route and snowfall around the cave, which forced temporary suspension of the yatra, the devotees made a beeline towards the cave for having ‘darshan’ of the naturally-formed Ice-Lingam, which is revered as an edifice of Lord Shiva. http://www.travelchacha.com/yatra/amarnath-yatra.htm More than 19,000 devotees had reached Baltal by this morning out of which only 5,380 could perform the yatra. Authorities are trying to clear the initial rush, which was caused by the delay in commencement of the pilgrimage by a week. Governor N N Vohra, who is Chairman of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, (SASB), and Chief Executive Officer B B Vyas, who were scheduled to visit the holy cave for ‘Pratham Darshan’ and inaugural ceremony for the Yatra, could not make it due to adverse weather conditions, an official spokesman said. He said the chairman and the CEO are now scheduled to visit the holy cave tomorrow, if the weather permits helicopter services to operate. Pratham Poojan was performed at the Holy Cave by the Additional CEO and the Camp Director of the Board amid chanting of religious hymns and prayers before the holy cave was opened up to the pilgrims for darshans, who had left Baltal base camp in early hours this morning. As per reports last received, it was snowing at the holy cave. Even though the traditional Pahalgam route is still closed for pilgrims, more than 1,300 devotees are camping at Nunwan base camp in the hope of undertaking the pilgrimage through the century-old route. The decision on opening up of the Pahalgam route will be taken on June 22. Helicopter service from Baltal base camp will start from tomorrow, provided the weather does not play spoilsport. Meanwhile, a spokesperson of the SASB said keeping in view the incessant rain and adverse weather conditions, no batch of Yatris has left from Jammu today for Baltal. On June 17 also, the pilgrims arriving at Jammu have been advised to wait in Jammu and join the batch which is scheduled to leave on Thursday, subject to an improvement in existing weather conditions, he said. The spokesperson said managing the movement of Yatris across the Banihal is necessary in view of the already huge rush of Yatris at Baltal, Manigam, Mirbazar, Nunwan (Pahalgam) and other places enroute. He said as the Meteorological Department has forecast rain and snow for today, the Yatris are requested to appreciate that the changes in the Yatra schedule are compelled by factors beyond the Board's control. http://us.travelchacha.com/tour-itineraries-india.html

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