Amarnath Yatra 2021: Corona Crisis Deepens On Amarnath Yatra

Amarnath Yatra 2021: Corona crisis deepens on Amarnath Yatra, annual religious yatra may be canceled.

The corona crisis has deepened once again on the annual pilgrimage -2021 of the holy cave of Shri Amarnath, situated at an elevation of about 3888 meters above sea level.

The concerned administration is seriously considering canceling it for common devotees.

In such a situation, only Mahant Deependra Giri of the Dushanami Akhara, the patron of the holy chadi Mubarak, will be able to go with the stick Mubarak.

He will be only one to go for the annual worship of Baba Barfani in the holy cave according to the Sanatan traditions. Last year too, he went with a few sage devotees for the main worship of the annual pilgrimage to the holy cave.

However, the final decision will be taken only in the meeting of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, to be chaired by Lieutenant Governor Manage Sinha.

Apart from a few board members, a section of the state administration is insisting on allowing a limited number of devotees to visit the holy cave through helicopters.

The registration of devotees for the annual pilgrimage -2021 to the holy cave of Shri Amarnath was started on 1st April.

Like various parts of the country, it was closed indefinitely on 22 April in view of the ever increasing cases of corona infection in the state.

This year the pilgrimage is to begin on 28 June. The yatra will conclude on the occasion of Shravan Poornima on the morning of Rakshabandhan on 22 August.

Last year too, this pilgrimage was canceled in view of the situation arising out of Corona infection. In the year 2019, this pilgrimage was postponed for four days due to fear of terrorist attack on 31 July.

Then it was canceled on August 5. During this time, only the holy stick Mubarak, under the leadership of Mahant Deepender Giri, went to the holy cave on the day of Rakshabandhan to worship Lord Amareshwar.

Concerned sources said that in view of the ever increasing cases of corona infection, Shri Amarnath Shrine Board and State Government are seriously considering canceling the annual pilgrimage of the holy cave of Shri Amarnath for common devotees.

Amarnath Yatra 2021: Continuous discussions are going on with the concerned people in this subject.

There is also a dialogue with the Union Home Ministry. No structure has been prepared so far around the holy cave for the convenience of devotees.

However, a squad of security forces must have gone to the holy cave for Raki. Apart from this, the Pahalgam-Chandanbari-Sheshnag-holy cave route has also not been cleaned.

Many places still have a thick sheet of snow on this path. It can not be walked on foot and can be traveled by riding in a horse or sedan.

It takes at least a month to clear the ice and prepare the way. In contrast, the situation on the Baltal route is somewhat better.

He said that some members of the board and a section of the state administration have advised not to completely cancel the annual pilgrimage of Shri Amarnath.

They say that they should wait a few more days before taking any final decision in this regard. According to these, the wave of corona infection may decrease by mid-June.

Thereafter, the option of allowing devotees to visit the Holy Cave through a limited number of helicopters can be adopted.

Sources said that Shri Amarnath Shrine Board is seriously considering all related issues regarding the pilgrimage.

A meeting of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board is going to take place in the next few days under the leadership of Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha, in which a decision can be taken to cancel the pilgrimage for common devotees.