Record no of Amarnath yatris perform 'pooja' on 1st Monday of Savan

Jammu, July 18 (UNI) In spite of the Shiv Lingam controversy a record number of pilgrims -- 8,600 -- on 'Savan ka pahala somvar' (first Monday of Savan month), performed 'darshan' and 'pooja' at the holy Amarnath cave in Himalaya.

Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) sources told UNI here today the rush of devotees yesterday was maximum and a record number of pilgrims (maximum in a day) perform darshan.

''More than 2,35,000 devotees have performed 'pooja and darshan' of the Shiv Lingam till last evening, since June 11 when the holy Yatra commenced,'' sources said.

Sources said 6,663 pilgrims today left for Amarnath cave. 3,033 pilgrims from Pahalgam, 1,855 from Baltal, 1,425 from Jammu and 350 by air left for the holy shrine.

Sources said the Pahalgam route witnessed the maximum number of pilgrims as around 1,40,000 devotees travelled via this route while more than 95,000 pilgrims visited the holy Amarnath shrine vis Baltal route till today.

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