A batch of 1,935 Amarnath pilgrims leaves Jammu for holy shrine

Jammu, June 20 (ANI): After initial weather related hindrances, a fresh batch of 1,935 pilgrims left Jammu on Saturday for its onward journey to the holy Amarnath cave shrine in Kashmir.

The batch comprises 852 men, 325 women, 54 children and 704 ascetics left from the base camp at Bhagwati Nagar in Jammu at around 0450 hours amid tight security, officials said. It will travel though the Baltal route.

A total of 4,695 pilgrims including Saturday's batch have left Jammu for the cave shrine since the beginning of the Yatra on June 15.

Amarnath pilgrimage was obstructed for three days following bad weather prevailing in Kashmir valley before resuming on Friday.

Presently, the authorities were allowing only the Baltal route for the annual pilgrimage as the Pahalgam route has not been fully cleared of snow.

The Amarnath caves are one of the most famous shrines in Hinduism, dedicated to Lord Shiva, located in Jammu and Kashmir.

The holy shrine is claimed to be over 5,000 years old and forms an important part of ancient Hindu mythology. Inside the main Amarnath cave lies an ice stalagmite resembling the Shiva Linga, which waxes during May to August and gradually wanes thereafter.

This Shivalinga is said to grow and shrink with the phases of the moon. (ANI)