JAMMU,INDIA, February 14, 2020 (Daily Excelsior): The 42-day-long annual pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine of Shri Amarnath Ji in South Kashmir Himalayas will commence on June 23. This year’s pilgrimage will be longer by two days against last year’s 40 days. “The board decided that a 42-day yatra would commence on 23rd June, 2020, an auspicious day of Jagan Nath Rath Yatra as per Hindu calendar, and conclude on Shravan Purnima (Raksha Bandhan) on 3rd August, 2020,” Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), Bipul Pathak said here. The yatra will conclude on August 3 on the occasion of Shravan Purnima (Raksha Bandhan). The duration and schedule of yatra was based on the approach set by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Committee. The registration for the yatra will begin from April 1.
Considering the success of the pilot project of online registration of a limited number of yatris in 2019, the board decided to increase the quota of online registration, a spokesman of the board said. No person below the age of 13 years and above the age of 75 years shall be permitted to undertake the pilgrimage, he said. The Board directed the CEO to caution all potential pilgrims to particularly take into account the difficult climate and terrain in the high altitude region of the Yatra and prepare themselves fully before embarking on the pilgrimage. The Board also requested the intending pilgrims to make themselves physically fit for the arduous Yatra by taking regular walk and exercise. Instructions were also issued to ensure that the yatra routes and camps remain plastic-free, the spokesman said.