Buddha Amarnath yatra to commence on August 17

Jammu, July 7: The centuries-old Buddha Amarnath Yatra in the border district of Poonch of Jammu and Kashmir will commence on August 17.

Over 30,000 pilgrims were expected to visit the week-long yatra from different parts of the country, Bajrang Dal National President Prakash Sharma and Vishwa Hindu Parishad State Chief Dr Rama Kant Dubey said.

''Every day around 1500 to 3000 pilgrims are expected to visit the holy shrine for 'darshan'. The first batch of yatris will leave from Ved Mandir base camp, Ambphalla on August 17, while the last batch will perform the darshan on August 24 and return the next day for Jammu,'' they said.

According to Mr Sharma, the government was expected to make arrangements for the yatra by constructing the road leading to the holy shrine Bajrang Dal.

For the smooth conduct of Yatra, Samitis were formed at Jammu, Rajouri, Sunderbani, Surankote, Poonch and Mandi. These Samitis would work in coordination with Baba Buda Amarnath Yatra Samiti, Mandi Poonch, he said.

Mr Sharma said the yatra would help in restoring the confidence of the minorities living in far flung and militancy infested areas.

Besides the Buddha Amarnath Yatra, the Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad would also conduct the pilgrimages for Sarthal Mata and Vaisuki Nag in Doda district to restore the confidence of the Hindus living in the hilly reaches of Doda.

Both the outfits have also demanded that the Hindus be given permission to have the pilgrimage of Devi Kali, which is 45 km away from Poonch and Sharda Peeth Temple in the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

VHP leader Ramakant Dubey said the Amarnath yatris were facing inconvenience as they were being looted by the tourist traders in Kashmir valley.

He also criticised the state government for ignoring the Buddha Amarnath pilgrimage and alleged that Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad declined a meeting with the Bajrang Dal and VHP leadership to discuss the yatra issue.

UNI

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