The Jammu and Kashmir administration, on Sunday, announced that the 43-day Amarnath yatra will commence from June 30.
A statement by office of the J&K LG Manoj Sinha said the annual pilgrimage will be held amid strict Covid-19 protocols.
The decision to allow the yatra this year was taken at a meeting of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board under the chairmanship of Sinha.
“LG Manoj Sinha chaired the board meeting of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) today. The 43-day holy pilgrimage will commence on 30th June with all Covid protocols in place & culminate, as per the tradition, on the day of Raksha Bandhan,” tweeted the Office of the J&K LG.
The annual pilgrimages were cancelled last year and the year before due to the pandemic.
Last year, the government had allowed the registration for the yatra but was later suspended temporarily. The SASB had reasoned that it was monitoring the situation and later announced the cancellation of the yatra. The LG’s office said it was important to save people's lives. “So, it is not advisable to hold and conduct this year's pilgrimage in the larger public interest."
It had said the yatra will be "symbolic only" but "all traditional religious rituals shall be performed at the holy cave.
In 2019, the yatra was called two days before the revocation of Article 370. The security forces had cited threats to the yatra. Senior security officials in Srinagar had said explosives and arms to target the yatra have been recovered after which the yatra was halted in Jammu.
This will be the first time in two years that the yatra is being allowed in Jammu and Kashmir. With the pandemic under complete control, the authorities are hopeful that the annual pilgrimages that attract thousands of devotees from all over India will be successfully completed.
