The two-month-long yearly Amarnath Yatra, for which 1.96 lakh pioneers from various parts of the nation have enrolled for the current year, starts on Thursday in the midst of extraordinary security.
The main group of pioneers, set out toward the surrender sanctuary of Lord Shiva, was escorted in a caravan from the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu for the Kashmir Valley in the midst of three-level security on Wednesday.
The journey is being led under remarkable security as it comes days after representative's manage was forced in the state following the fall of the PDP-BJP government in the Valley and the unstable circumstance in south Kashmir through which the yatra passes.
The Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), headed by senator NN Vohra, which deals with the undertakings of the yatra, has this year chose to confine at 7,500, from each course, the every day number of pioneers to be permitted to continue towards the hallowed place every day. This does exclude explorers who utilize the helicopter administrations from the two base camps to the sanctuary.
Three lakh travelers are relied upon to attempt the yatra that closes on August 26, matching with the Shravan Purnima celebration.
Arranged at 3,888m (12,756 feet) above ocean level, the give in sanctuary in south Himalayas houses an ice stalagmite structure that waxes and fades with the periods of the moon. Lovers trust the ice stalagmite symbolizes legendary forces of Lord Shiva.
Legend has it that Lord Shiva portrayed the 'amar katha or tribute to shamelessness' to Goddess Parvati in the hallowed place, which was found by a Muslim shepherd in the 15thcentury. A normally framed 'ice lingam' in the give in is the protest of love.
Travelers taking the 36-km Pahalgam course take four days to achieve the holy place with stopovers at Chandanwari, Sheshnag and Panchtarni, while those utilizing the 14-km tough Baltal course come back to the base camp that day in the wake of offering petitions at the holy place. The sanctum through Pahalgam is 428 km from Jammu, while it is 416 km from Baltal. Jammu is 292 km from Srinagar.
3-level framework of 40,000 security work force
Almost 40,000 security work force from the armed force, paramilitary powers, state police and the National Disaster Response Force have been sent on yatra obligation.
Their prime errand is to disinfect and secure the 400-km parkway, beginning from Lakhanpur, the portal on the J&K-Punjab fringe, to the altar. Similarly overwhelming is the assignment of securing many stopgap 'langar' (network kitchens) and night camps for explorers along the yatra course.
