SRINAGAR: On Sunday, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu along with his family visited the Amarnath cave shrine in South Kashmir.
Accompanied by senior officers of the shrine board, LG Murmu, performed a special ‘pooja’ (prayers) at the cave shrine.
Speaking on the occasion, Murmu wished for an early end to coronavirus pandemic and hoped that the people would soon get relief from this pandemic. He also wished that J&K would march on the path of development and peace will prevail in the region.
During his visit, Murmu said the board has decided to conduct the yatra via Baltal route only. “We have readied the Baltal route for the pilgrims who are expected to visit in limited numbers only due to this pandemic,” he said.
Otherwise a 42-day long yatra, this year due to pandemic, it has been curtailed from July 21 to August 3.
LG Murmu expressed happiness over the decision of the board to broadcast a live telecast of Amarnath Aarti, twice a day, starting from today till August 3 and said it would benefit the pilgrims across the world.
“A large number of pilgrims may not be able to visit the shrine this year. The live telecast of Amarnath Aarti will benefit all such devotees,” he said.
The pilgrimage, officials said would be held in a restricted manner so that the SoPs for COVID-19 are strictly adhered to during the conduct of the Yatra. A maximum of 500 pilgrims would be allowed per day by road from Jammu to Kashmir.
