Despite inclement weather, more than 7,000 pilgrims had darshan at the Amarnath cave shrine on the 28th day of the Yatra. Another batch of 2,050 pilgrims left Jammu for the Valley on Saturday.
Since the Yatra began on July 1, more than 3.77 lakh people have performed the pilgrimage. Of these, 36 pilgrims have died.
Pilgrims can approach the cave shrine via the traditional Pahalgam route, which involves a 43-km uphill trek, or the Baltal route, which involves a 14-km uphill trek. Helicopter services are also available.
The cave shrine houses an ice stalagmite structure that devotees believe symbolizes the mythical powers of Lord Shiva. The ice stalagmite structure wanes and waxes with the phases of the moon.
This year’s 62-day long Amarnath Yatra will end on August 31 on Shravan Purnima coinciding with Raksha Bandhan.
To protect pilgrims from high altitude sickness, authorities have banned all junk food at the free community kitchens called the “langars” that have been set up along both the routes of the Yatra. The banned items include all bottled drinks, Halwai items, fried foods, and tobacco-based products.
