Marking the formal commencement of the annual pilgrimage to the shrine of Lord Shiva in Jammu and Kashmir, the J-K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday flagged off the first batch of devotees going to the holy Amarnath Yatra.
While speaking on the sidelines of the flag-off event in Jammu and Kashmir, LG Sinha said, “More than a thousand people have just set out for the Budha Amarnath Yatra. The Jammu and Kashmir administration has made excellent arrangements for the Amarnath Yatra,” as cited by news agency ANI.
Swami Budha Amarnath Ji mandir is situated between the main belt of the Pir Panchal Range at Rajpura Mandi, which is 25 km to the northeast of Poonch city. The Amarnath Yatra, as per the Hindu beliefs, is said to be a sacred journey to the mountain where Lord Shiva revealed the secrets of immortality to his consort, Goddess Parvati.
While addressing the Amarnath Yatra flag-off, Jammu and Kashmir LG also stated that there has been a “significant increase” in provisions to support pilgrims.
He further added that, “At the same time, there has been a significant increase in facilities for the devotees undertaking the Amarnath Yatra. More than 3.77 lakh devotees have completed the Amarnath Yatra so far. People from across the country will be present in large numbers and for the welfare of the nation and Jammu and Kashmir,” as cited by news agency ANI.
Meanwhile, the army has a new CCTV camera to monitor any anti-national activity in the wake of the Baba Budha Amarnath Yatra that will get underway in the Poonch sector from July 28.
Considering the unfortunate incidents that have been happening in the past few years during the Amarnath Yatra, CCTV cameras have been set up along a 15-kilometre stretch leading to the shrine in Mandi, Poonch.
Devotees for the yatra will be coming from different parts of India under the banner of Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad.
Swami Budha Amarnath Ji mandir is located on the confluence of two gushing streams, namely Nallah Gagri and Pulsta Nadi.
The Baba Budha Amarnath Ji mandir has four doorways and houses a natural Shivlinga. Thousands of devotees from all across the country are expected to visit the Baba Budha Amarnath Ji temple during the annual yatra preceding Raksha Bandhan. The temple hosts the Budha Amarnath Ji Mela, a large annual celebration.
(With inputs from ANI)