More than two lakh pilgrims have so far registered with Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) for the annual pilgrimage
Denying any threat to the Holy Amarnath Yatra, Hurriyat hawk Syed Ali Shah Geelani on Sunday decided to roll-out red carpet for the yatris saying they will receive them as their revered guests.
"Terror threat to the upcoming Amarnath Yatra is a brazen lie and aimed at maligning and discrediting the political struggle of Kashmir… It is our age-old tradition. In future too we will follow this tradition with same spirit and receive the yatris as our revered guests," said Geelani.
The annual yatra will take off on June 29 and culminate on the Raksha Bandan Day, which falls on August 7. More than two lakh pilgrims have so far registered with Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) for the annual pilgrimage.
More than 200 companies (each company has a strength of 100 men) of paramilitary forces are being deployed for maintaining the security of the yatris right from the Jammu base camp to the holy cave shrine. This is in addition to the local police and other security forces presently posted in Kashmir.
"Kashmiris are not against any religion or its followers. We are pursuing a legitimate struggle for our fundamental rights. Amarnath Yatra is being conducted for decades and the people here have treated these yatris with unique hospitality. People have always been hospitable, descent and received them as their guests," said Geelani.
Situated in a narrow gorge at the altitude of 3,888 metres, the holy Amarnath cave is accessible from two routes in Kashmir Valley. The 46-km Pahalgam–Holy cave trek is an ancient pilgrimage route which is covered in five days. There lies the ice lingam of Lord Shiva that is formed naturally and waxes and wanes with the moon. The new 14-kilometre Baltal-Holy cave route is now preferred by the pilgrims since it is shorter though steep, and journey can be completed in a day.
"During the uprising in 2008, 2010 and 2016, people, despite restrictions and curfew, received these yatris with open arms and provided shelter and food," said Geelani.
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