The annual Amarnath yatra started on Sunday from the Pahalgam and Baltal routes, even as the holy Shiv lingam is melting fast due to rising temperatures at the cave shrine.
Shiv lingam is melting, but experts call it a natural phenomenon
SRINAGAR: The annual Amarnath yatra started on Sunday from the Pahalgam and Baltal routes, even as the holy Shiv lingam (stalagmite) is melting fast due to rising temperatures at the cave shrine.
Over 10,000 pilgrims camping at different points were allowed to proceed towards the cave shrine from both the routes. Hundreds of devotees started their trek this morning after the weather conditions improved. The yatra was delayed by a day because of heavy rains, turning the trek slipper and slippery conditions on the trek.
Dr Arun Kumar, chief executive officer of Shri Amarnath Yatra Shrine Board (SASB), said the pilgrimage was allowed from both routes this morning after the weather showed signs of improvement. He said the melting of the Shiv lingam in the cave shrine was a natural phenomenon.
He said weather affects the shape and size of the ice-lingam. Due to hot temperature the size and height of the lingam had reduced considerably, he said. The lingam in the 200 cubic-metre cave has reduced to 1/10 of the size. This year, there was a formation of a 12-feet ice-lingam.
Director of the holy cave N K Raina, too, said it has been witnessed for the past several years that the lingam does not exist on the Raksha Bandhan day which falls on August 28 when the yatra concludes.
Nearly 150 vehicles carrying pilgrims entered into Sonamarg this morning. “There were 8,500 pilgrims stationed at base camps in Chandanwari and Nunwan. After reviewing the situation we allowed the pilgrims to proceed towards the cave shrine. Five thousand pilgrims have crossed the Pesu valley on Sunday afternoon,” said GA Pir, deputy commissioner Anantnag.
SASB has decided to allow 10,000 pilgrims for darshan every day at the cave shrine. “Five thousand pilgrims each will be allowed from the Baltal and Pahalgam routes,” said Madan Mantoo, spokesman for SASB. Six pilgrim camps have also been set up. Each of them will accommodate 1,400 pilgrims. “We have also set up 13 single rooms, five two-bedroom rooms and two dormitories at the Nunwan camp. We have also make arrangements for 50 two-bedroom rooms and 113 single room at Baltal camp. Nearly 2300 toilets have been set up,” said Mantoo.
A multi-tier security systems has been put in place. “We have mobilised additional manpower to provide security to the pilgrims. We will be reviewing the security arrangements constantly to plug loopholes if any,” said Hemant Kumar Lohia, deputy inspector general of police, south Kashmir range.
The Amarnath cave is located in a narrow gorge at an altitude of 3,888 metres. The 44.8 kilometre Pahalgam-Amarnath cave trek is an ancient pilgrimage route which is covered in four days with night halts at Chandanwari, Sheshnag (Wawjan), and Panjtarni. Inside the cave lies the Shiv lingam, which is naturally formed from ice. It waxes and wanes according to the movement of the moon.
The Baltal-holy cave trek is the shortest pilgrimage route which was opened a couple of years ago. The trek is steep compared to the Pahalgam-Amarnath route.
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