Pilgrims throng Amarnath shrine despite unrest in Kashmir

Frequent strikes and violent clashes in the Valley notwithstanding, pilgrims from across the country are turning up in large numbers at the holy cave shrine of Amarnath in South Kashmir Himalayas.

Hundreds of pilgrims are arriving here daily, driven by their faith in Lord Shiva and their determination to foot the arduous track for 'darshan' (glimpse) of the naturally formed ice-shivlingam at the 3,880-metre high cave shrine.
       
So far, over 2.60 lakh pilgrims have paid their obeisance at the shrine in this year's pilgrimage organised by the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB). "A total of 2,64,329 pilgrims had darshan (glimpse) of the naturally formed ice-shivlingam till this afternoon at the cave shrine since the commencement of the yatra on June 15," official sources told PTI.
       
They said while 1,84,362 pilgrims preferred the shortest 16-km Baltal track in Ganderbal district, 79,967 devotees used the traditional 46-km Pahalgam track in Anantnag district for offering their prayers at the holy cave. While the yatra commenced from Baltal track on June 16, the traditional Pahalgam track was thrown open for the pilgrims on June 26 as heavy snowfall hampered the restoration of the track.
       
Kashmir Valley is on the boil since May 30 following alleged rape and murder of two women in Shopian followed by killing of four persons in Baramulla and an undergraduate student in Srinagar.