Amarnath Yatra: Third batch begins journey

Jammu, July 4: Another batch of around 2,000 pilgrims for the Amarnath Yatra left from here on Saturday for the Himalayan cave shrine in the Kashmir Valley.

"The third batch of 1,849 pilgrims, including 406 women and 25 children, left Jammu in buses, taxis and private vehicles in a convoy for the Shri Amarnathji Yatra today (Saturday)," a senior police official told IANS here.

The official said the convoy of pilgrims started from the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in the city at 5 a.m.

So far, more than 16,000 pilgrims have had 'darshan' at the Amarnath cave shrine situated 14,500 feet above the sea level in south Kashmir's Anantnag district.

The cave shrine houses an ice stalagmite structure that waxes and wanes with the phases of the Moon.

Devotees believe the stalagmite structure symbolizes mythical powers of Lord Shiva and call it the 'Holy Lingam'.

The two-month long Yatra will end on August 29 coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan festivals.

Pilgrims use both the 36-km long traditional Pahalgam route and the 14-km long north Kashmir Baltal route to reach the cave shrine.

IANS