Bad weather halts Amarnath yatra

Amarnath Yatra, one of the most important Hindu pilgrimages in Himalayas was suspended on Friday after the weather turned hostile. No fresh batch of devotees was allowed to continue their journey to the cave shrine.

Heavy rains in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district continued for the second day making the routes from Pahalgam to cave and Baltal to cave slippery and improper for travel.

Starting on June 17, a total of 8251 pilgrims have left so far for the annual 45-day pilgrimage to Amarnath cave this year through the Himalayas. The shrine is considered as one of the holiest religious expedition for Hindus being an abode of the Lord Shiva.

The controversial and most sought-after yatra which is always in limelight due to militancy in the region is much more than a religious tour for the pilgrims. It accounts for one of the most adventurous and thrilling journeys in India.

Amarnath is famous for the formation of a snow ‘Shivling’ which forms by itself every year during snowfall. The abode of lord Shiva situated at a height of 14,500 ft fills the heart and soul of a devotee with ecstasy.