Despite turmoil, yatra turnout 2nd highest

From J&K NewsPoint Nishikant Khajuria

Jammu Tawi, August 22  As the annual Amarnath yatra is reaching its culmination on the Rakshabandhan day, last batch of pilgrims left Jammu base camp, here today, for its onward journey to the holy cave shrine, situated in north Kashmir.  More than 4.56 lakh pilgrims have so far performed darshan of the Ice Lingam during this year of the yatra, which started on July 1. This is the second highest number of pilgrims in a year since the yatra management was taken over by Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) in 2001.  Contrary to apprehensions that ongoing violence in the Valley which broke out in June would affect the pilgrimage, about 80,000 more devotees visited the holy cave as compared to the last year.  Only 3.81 lakh devotees had visited the cave last year and inclement weather was one reason for the low turnout. The yatra, scheduled to start on June 7, was delayed due to snowfall on both the routes. While Baltal track was opened on June 16, it could start from the traditional Pahalgam route on June 25 only.  Interestingly, in 2008, a record number of 5,33,368 pilgrims had paid obeisance at the cave despite trouble in Kashmir and Jammu regions due to the Amarnath land row. This is the highest number of pilgrims recorded in one year ever.  An analysis of the pilgrimage figures reveals that rhetoric against the yatra is usually not a deterrent and larger number of pilgrims throng the cave. In 2008, massive protests were witnessed in the State over the transfer of land to the SASB. This year, hardcore separatist leader Syeed Ali Shah Geelani had demanded curtailing of the yatra to 15 days.  In 2004, over four lakh pilgrims had visited the shrine when the pilgrimage duration was increased from 30 days to 45 days. In 2005, only 3.88 lakh yatris visited the Lord Shiva cave.  About 1.90 lakh pilgrims had visited Amarnath shrine in 2001 while the number came down to 1.10 lakh in 2002. It again went up to 1.70 lakh in 2003. The yatra sharply rose to four lakh in 2004 and stood at 3.99 lakh in 2005. In 2006, the yatra was 3.47 lakh but it again came down to 2.96 lakh in 2007.  The SASB was constituted in 2001 on the basis of recommendations of a committee set up by the National Conference government headed by Farooq Abdullah.  For the peaceful conduct of the yatra in wake of terrorists threats, a multi-tier security grid was provided by Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the Jammu and Kashmir police (JKP) this year. The BSF secured the two routes of north and south Kashmir, while the CRPF and the State police guarded the base and transit camps on the pilgrimage routes. Later, the government had requisitioned more paramilitary forces as the CRPF was busy handling the law and order situation in the Kashmir Valley.  Though no specific input with regard to targeting the Amarnath yatra were received, adequate security personnel were deployed along the entire route of the pilgrimage, from Jammu to Amarnath in Kashmir.  Meanwhile, last batch of Amarnath pilgrims, comprising 27 male, 27 female and one child, left Jammu base camp at Bhagwati Nagar for its onward journey in two SRTC buses while 218 yatris left for the holy cave from Nunwan-Phalgam and Sonamarg-Baltal routes for darshan today. The Charri Mubarak today left from Chandwari to third halt station Shashnag.  So far 4, 56,411 had darshan of the holy Shiv Lingam at the cave shrine.