First batch of Shrikhand Yatra flagged off in Himachal

Shimla, Jul 10 (PTI) The annual Shrikhand Yatra, one of the most difficult religious yatras with perilous trek, officially commenced on Thursday with chairman of Milk Federation, Budhi Singh, flagging off the first batch.
    Adequate arrangements have been made for the yatra, which would conclude on July 23. The trust has decided that only 800 pilgrims would be allowed per day, said Kullu Deputy Commissioner Tarul S Ravish on Thursday.
    Situated at a height of 16900 feet above the sea level in the Kullu district, Shrikhand Mahadev is one of the toughest pilgrimages in India. It is a 35 km (one way) harsh trek snaking through alpine meadows to a 72-feet pinnacle of rock called Shivlinga.
    The DC urged the pilgrims to take care of cleanliness during the yatra and scrupulously avoid use of drugs. She said that five camps have been set up for the convenience of pilgrims at Sinhgad, Tharchu, Kunsha, Bhimdawari Parvati Baag, adding that healthcare, police, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and other necessary arrangements have been made at the camps.
    Registration and medical examination of the pilgrims is mandatory, and those who could not get them registered online will have the facility to get registered at the base camp, she said. The rates of eatables have been fixed by the administration and 'langars' have also been organised at some places, she added.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)