J&K: Registration for Amarnath Yatra begins amid heavy rush

Jammu, April 15 (IANS) Registration for this year’s Amarnath Yatra started on Wednesday as pilgrims rushed to various registration counters in large numbers.​

Devotees thronged registration counters as both online and offline registration began. The advance registration is open in both modes.​

The 57-day pilgrimage will commence from the twin tracks, the traditional 42-km-long Pahalgam route in Anantnag and the 14-km shorter, but tougher Baltal route in Ganderbal district.​

Devotees using the Pahalgam route take four days to reach the cave shrine, while those using the Baltal route return to the base camp after having ‘Darshan’ the same day.​

Helicopter services are available for pilgrims on both the Pahalgam and Baltal routes.​

This year’s Yatra will start on July 3 and will conclude on Raksha Bandhan, August 28.​

Officials of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, which manages the affairs of the Yatra, said there is a heavy rush as pilgrims are coming to register.

Registration is now open in both online and offline modes.​

Across the country, 556 bank branches are involved in the registration process, of which 310 are Punjab National Bank branches. In Jammu, six counters have been set up.​

The offline branches in Jammu, including those of J&K Bank and Punjab National Bank, witnessed long queues since 8 am as devotees lined up an hour before the start of the registration process.​

Many devotees said they wanted to be among the first to have ‘Darshan’ inside the holy cave shrine.​

The Amarnath cave shrine, situated at 3,888 metres above sea level, houses an ice stalagmite structure that symbolises the divine powers of Lord Shiva, according to devotees’ belief.​

The ice stalagmite structure wanes and waxes with the phases of the moon. Local Muslims in large numbers facilitate the Yatra, working as pony wallahs, porters, or even carrying the old and infirm devotees on their backs.​

Offline registration can be done at 556 bank branches across the country, including 310 branches of Punjab National Bank, 90 branches of J&K Bank, 37 branches of Yes Bank, and 99 branches of State Bank of India, among others.​

--IANS

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