Srinagar, May 03, KONS: The Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board on Tuesday notified dates for the annual Amarnath Yatra to the Kashmir Himalayas, saying that the pilgrimage would begin on June 29 and end on August 13.
The Board has designated 149 branches of various banks – including 121 branches of the J and K Bank - for the registration of pilgrims, asking devotees to access its website for more information.
Originally a fifteen-day schedule, the yatra had been extended to two months despite opposition from religious heads citing holy scripture about its prescribed timing and duration, with vested interests winning the day through former J and K governor, Lt Gen (retd) SK Sinha in commercialising an act of pure devotion.
The present governor, NN Vohra, who is currently the Board chairman, has reduced the yatra period by a fortnight, earning the ire of the right-wing Vishwa Hindu Parishad which has threatened to commence the pilgrimage on June 15.
Announcing the official yatra dates for this year today, the chief executive officer of the shrine board, RK Goel, said that registration of pilgrims at the designated bank branches would begin from May 10 and continue till August 10.
Prospective pilgrims would have to fill up special forms and deposit Rs 15 while registering, and ‘yatra permits’ would be issued after thorough scrutiny of the documents, he said.
According to Goel, an insurance scheme of Rs 1 lakh already approved by the Board would remain in force for pilgrims to compensate for accidents.
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