Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Lt General (retd) S K Sinha has expressed hope that the Amarnath Yatra will pass off peacefully this year as in 2003 and 2004.
Lt Gen Sinha, who is in charge of the security of the Yatra, is confident that the two-month pilgrimage would pass of without any terrorist disruptions.
He will perform pooja at the holy cave on June 21, after which the pilgrims coming from the Baltal route will be allowed 'darshan' of the holy ice-Shivling.
"As in the past, this year too I have taken personal interest in the opening of the route. This year will see a two-month long yatra. The Baltal to Amarnath route will open to pilgrims on June 21. I walked and rode on the pony along the route to give finishing touches. Snow was cleared off the track. The other route from Pahalgam to the holy cave will open in the first week of next month. On this route there is ten feet of snow at several places. We hope in the next two weeks that will be taken care of," he said.
Gen Sinha admitted that arrangements would have been better if not for the unprecedented snowfall.
"We want to have prefabricated rest houses, better toilet facilities for the yatris. Our attempt is to ensure that the pilgrims are not put to inconvenience," he said.
To ensure that the ice-Shivling does not melt before the end of the yatra, it has been decided that the priests at the cave would perform the pooja only once a day. Burning of incense would be restricted.
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