The Yatra, which began on July 1, witnessed the participation of 4,45,338 devotees from different parts of India and from abroad. The number of pilgrims who undertook Yatra last year was 3.65 lakh. This years’s Yatra witnessed a big leap.

 

48 people including pilgrims and service providers died during the course of Yatra and nearly 62 people suffered injuries. The deaths were due to weather related incidents or natural causes, officials said.

 

"The continuous monitoring and coordination between different agencies helped in maintaining a smooth and incident-free Yatra. The efforts of the government and the local administration, coupled with the cooperation of the pilgrims, resulted in the successful completion of the Amarnath Yatra," Md Yassen, senior officer of Pantha ChowkYatra Base Camp said.

This pilgrimage holds immense religious significance for Hindus, who believe that visiting the Amarnath cave brings them closer to Lord Shiva. Yaseen further said that the langers, sanitary system, tents and other facilities which were set up by the administration in Pantha Chowk yatra base camp Srinagar are now backing back as today is the last day of Amarnath yatra.

 

Earlier, on Tuesday, ‘Chhari Mubarak’ popularly known as the holy mace of Lord Shiva had left for Sheshnaag in the morning hours from Chandanwari in Pahalgam to mark the culmination of the Amarnath Yatra.

 

The Chhari Mubarak had spent the night at Chandanwar Pahalgam before heading to Sheshnaag.

 

 

The rituals for the holy ‘Chhari Mubarak’ mark the culmination of the annual Amarnath Yatra.

 

The annual pilgrimage to the historic Budha Amarnath temple in the Mandi area of ​​Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir also culminated on the day of Raksha Bandhan.

 

This pilgrimage has been the best example of secularism and is like an annual festival in which local Muslims also participate actively. At Sports Stadium Poonch where the base camp was established, dozens of Muslim youths volunteered to serve the pilgrims every day.

(With ANI inputs)