Amarnath Yatra concludes: 3.39 lakh pilgrims offer prayers this year

The annual pilgrimage to the holy Amarnath cave shrine in South Kashmir concluded yesterday, with about 3.39 lakh pilgrims offering prayers at the naturally-formed ice-shivalingam this year. The custodian of the holy mace, Charri Mubarak, Mahant Deependra Giri, along with about 20 other priests were flown to the holy cave in a helicopter where they performed the rituals pooja to the Ice Lingam on Shrawan Purnima today. Earlier, the yatra, was cut short by 16 days by the authorities, in



view of a terrorist threat.

Elsewhere, in Poonch District Budha Amarnath Yatra also concluded peacefully. 

The 46-day Amarnath yatra, which had begun on July 1, was cut short as the army said Pakistan-based terrorists are planning to target the yatra and the Jammu and Kashmir administration asked the pilgrims and tourists to "curtail" their stay in the Valley and leave immediately.