M.K Bangroo
JAMMU, Jul 2 : A fresh batch of over 6000 pilgrims today left Bagwati Nagar base camp here for cave shrine of Amarnath, while Army’s Kilo force reconstructed fallen bridges on Amarnath route via Baltal in Sonamarg area.
Amid tight security today’s batch of 6113 pilgrims, including 1293 women, left from here to pay obeisance at the 3880 -meter-high holy cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas, official said.
The pilgrims, which also include some Sadhus and children, will be reaching the base camps of Pahalgam in Anantnag district and baltal in Ganderabl district later in the day, they said, adding they will have night halts at these respective places before proceeding onwards to cave shrine.
With today’s batch, as many as 23214 pilgrims have left Bagwati Nagar base camp for the valley since commencement of the yatra on June 29. Of these, 4173 left in convoy of 148 vehicles for the pahalgam base camp, while another batch of 1940 pilgrims preferred Baltal route and left in a fleet of 80 vehicles.
Over 2,0000 pilgrims have offered their prayers at the cave shrine, housing the naturally force ice-Shivlingam, since the commencement of the 43-day yatra on June 29.
The yatra is scheduled to end on August 11 on the occasion of “Shravan Purnima”, coinciding with the Raksha Bandhan.
Meanwhile, 13 Engineer Regiment of the Kilo Force of Chinar Corps battled inclement weather and darkness to reconstruct two fallen bridges near Kalimate in Baltal area of ganderbal district.
The Jawans , who undertook the construction work in the intervening night of June 30 and July 1, did their job to the satisfaction of their superiors and made the track traffic worthy.
Another report said that Shrin Amarnath Ji shrine Board has launched online facility of virtual Darshan for the devotees.
The initiative has been taken by the Shrine Board with a view to maximize the use of available technology to provide opportunity to the devotees of Baba Barfani across the globe to have a personal experience of godliness and bliss.
The devotees can book their Pooja, Hawan and Prasad online, and priests at the holy cave will offer it in the devotee’s name , besides the Prasad will be subsequently delivered at doorsteps of the devotees.
The CEO of Srine Board Nitishwar kumar said tha tthe online services can be booked through Shri Amarnath Shrine Boards’s website www.shriamarnathjishrine.com by clicking Book online Pooja / Hawan/ Prasad link & through the Board’s Mobile application (which may be downloaded through the link https:// play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ncog.shriamarnath, by paying Rs 1100/- for virtual pooja, Rs 1100/- for prasad booking(with 5 gms silver coin of Shri Amarnathji), Rs 2100/- for Prasad booking (with 10 gm silver coin of Shri Amarnathji) Rs 5100/- for the special hawan or combination of any of the above.
The Virtual Pooja or Hawan would be carried out by the Pujaris at the Cave shrine by pronouncing the Name and gotra of the devotee along with the chanting of Mantras and Sholakas.
“Maximizing the use available technologyand digitization, the devotees would be let in a virtual online room through Jio meet application wherein they can have special virtual Pooja and darshan of Lord Shiva”, he said.
“We have made an arrangement with the Postal department for dispatching Prasad within 48 hours”, the CEO said and added once the booking is done, the Shrine Board would share the link and date/time on the registered mobile number/e-mail id of the devotee. The portal has been developed by SASB with the help of National informatics Centre, J&K.
Over 6000 pilgrims leaves Jammu for Amarnath shrine, Army reconstructs fallen bridges on Shrine route
