59-day Amarnath Yatra to begin on July 2

This year’s Amarnath pilgrimage will be 15 days longer than that of 2014 with the 59-day-long yatra in South Kashmir Himalayas set to begin on July 2 and end on August 29.

This was decided at the 28th meeting of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) held under the chairmanship of Governor N N Vohra in Jammu on Sunday.

Stating that registration process for the Yatra will begin on March 1, an official spokesman said the pilgrimage will commence on an auspicious day, June 28, as per Hindu calendar and conclude on Raksha Bandan day on August 10.

To finalise the yatra schedule, including its commencement and duration, the board relied upon the approach set up by a sub-committee headed by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar for the purpose in July 2011, he added.

Last year, the 44-day yatra had commenced on June 28 and ended on August 10.

“The board noted that during the 2014 yatra, there was heavy snow accumulation on the Chandanwari — Holy Cave track, particularly on Sheshnag — Panjtarni stretch, which had delayed the commencement of yatra on the Pahalgam route, which could finally start only from July 2.

Keeping in view the safety and security of the pilgrims, the board decided that this year, the yatra shall commence on July 2, an auspicious day of Purshotam Purnima as per the Hindu calendar, and conclude on Shravan Purnima (Raksha Bandhan) on August 29,” the spokesman said.  

The board directed CEO Rakesh K Gupta to arrange a special pooja on Jyesth Purnima, on June 2, this year, if possible, at the Holy Cave or any other suitable location in the yatra area to pray for smooth and safe conduct of the pilgrimage.

Keeping in view safety and security, only registered 7,500 pilgrims each will be allowed to proceed daily to the cave shrine from both the Baltal and Chandanwari routes.
DH News Service