Srinagar,  The wait for Baba Barfani’s devotees has ended. There is good news for them. Shri Amarnath Shrine Board has decided to start the journey. This time the annual Amarnath Yatra commenced from July 21 and concluded on 3 August Raksha Bandhan. That is, the duration of the journey will be only 14 days. Not only this, the board has also fixed the age limit of the pilgrims going on a journey. Except for the sages, the other pilgrims going on the yatra should be below 55 years of age. It will also be mandatory for all traveling people to have COVID-19 test certificate.
This information was given by an officer of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB).  The confusion regarding the annual pilgrimage to Shri Amarnath, situated at an elevation of about 3888 meters above sea level, is now over. SASB has announced to launch it from July 21, deciding to start the journey. This time the journey will be from Baltal only. The work of removing snow from the route to the sacred cave has started.
He told that it would be compulsory for passengers to have COVID-19 test certificate. These certificates will be checked on entry into Jammu and Kashmir but cross-check will also be done for the virus before being allowed to start the journey. Apart from this, all pilgrims except sadhus have to register online for the yatra.
It has also been decided in the board meeting that arrangements have also been made for the pilgrims who have been deprived of visiting this time due to the Corona outbreak. The “special aarti” to be held in the morning and evening in Baba Barfani’s sacred cave during the 14-day journey period will be telecast live across the country. Officials said that due to shortage of local laborers, there are difficulties in maintaining track from base camp to cave temple. The board is making every effort to make the Baltal route ready for the pilgrims before July 21, but even if this is not done, arrangements will be made to make the pilgrims use the helicopter from the Baltal base camp in district Ganderbal. .
The board has also decided that this time the journey will be from Baltal as this route is the shortest. No pilgrim will be allowed to travel through Pahalgam route. It is worth mentioning that the “first puja” for the yatra was held in Jammu for the first time last Friday.
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It would not be inconsistent to say here that a team of police and Ganderbal administration has also come to take stock of the Yatra route. Snow is frozen all over the route. It is only after the return of this team that preparations have started for the journey from Sonamarg to Baltal. District Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal Shafqat Ahmed said that we have received instructions from the Lieutenant Governor Administration and Shri Amarnath Shrine Board to restore the Yatra route. After this, the work of removing snow from the route from Baltal to the cave and making it moveable has been started.
Meanwhile, Shrine Board officials said that restoring the Yatra route is not enough. On this entire route, arrangements for lodging, eating, drinking and health facilities of devotees are also to be made. Telephone service also has to be restored. All these facilities cannot be restored within the next fortnight. They require at least one month’s time. The safety of devotees during the yatra is also a big issue. The security forces need at least 20 days to prepare the travel cover.
First Pooja of Amarnath Yatra held in Jammu for the first time: The first puja was duly performed in Jammu  on Friday on Jyeshtha Purnima for the annual pilgrimage of Shri Baba Amarnath amidst the hardship of Har Har Mahadev. This is the first time when the first puja has taken place in Jammu instead of Kashmir, amid conditions arising from snow and corona infection on the journey route. In the pooja held at the office of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board in Talab Tilo, Jammu, the board officials and others called for a havan-yajna to end the outbreak of corona and wish public welfare in the entire country including Jammu and Kashmir. With the Shrine Board duly offering prayers, it is clear that the journey will definitely take place. The journey has been started in a way. Although the travel period can be reduced. Due to Corona infection, both the routes of travel are covered with sandalwood and Baltal ice
The Shrine Board has not yet taken any decision regarding the date of travel and advance registration. The board had earlier set June 23 as the proposed date to start the journey. Considering the preparations present, the journey is believed to start around mid-July. Meanwhile, the board’s CEO Vipul Pathak also said that the ongoing lockdown to rescue Corona was causing some difficulties in starting the journey. Soon the government will announce the yatra. According to sources, this time there is a possibility of limiting the yatra to 15 days. The decision to begin the yatra may take place in the next few days at a Shrine Board meeting..jpg)
Baba Barfani’s Darshan can be done online : Shrine Board is also considering the issue that arrangements should be made online or through electronic channels to get most of the devotees of the country to see Himmling. Arrangements are also being made to register online.
Mythological Values ​​of Yatra:  According to mythological beliefs, Shri Amarnath Yatra is considered to begin with the first puja archana on the banks of the Lidder Darya at Chandanwadi (Pahalgam) on Jyestha Purnima day and the last sighting of Shravan Purnima on Rakshabandhan. But given the circumstances, weather and route conditions, the Shrine Board decides on the date of travel. Accordingly, the journey goes on and every year lakhs of devotees come from across the country and bow their heads.
