Registration for Amarnath yatra begins

Amid criticism over curtailment of the yatra, the registration for the annunal pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine of Amarnath in South Kashmir commenced today.
       
The Shri Amarnath Shrine Board has begun registration of devotees for the annual pilgrimage beginning June 29, an SASB spokesperson said here.
       
"The registration process commenced today at 149 bank branches across the country. The e-registration system has also started functioning," he said.
       
"The registration has started for pilgrims visiting the shrine from both Baltal and Chandanwari routes," the spokesperson said.
        
The registration counters have been set up at 121 designated branches of the J&K Bank, 24 of the YES Bank and four of the District Cooperative Banks, he said.
        
The Shrine Board, at its meeting on February 18 this year, has curtailed the period of the annual pilgrimage by 15 days.
        
The yatra will commence simultaneously from Baltal and Chandanwari routes on June 29 and culminate on August 13.
        
Traditionally, the yatra used to run for two months beginning June 15. There has been no increase in the fee of Rs15 for registration either through the counters or the internet, the spokesperson said.
        
Opposing curtailment of the yatra, the Baba Amarnath Yatri Niyas (BAYN), an amalgam of some 30 religious, social and trade organisations, has vowed to commence the pilgrimage on June 15.
The VHP has also threatened to start the yatra from June 15.
        
The SASB has defended its decision saying the step was taken to ensure safe and smooth conduct of the arduous pilgrimage.