Srinagar Saturday, June 29: The annual pilgrimage to Baba Barfani temple holds immense significance for Hindu pilgrims who wait for months to become a part of the Amarnath Yatra.
Sanjeev Kumar, a pilgrim from Kashi, told us that there are good arrangements for pilgrims here. We also want to thank the personnel of the security forces.
A temporary hospital for Amarnath pilgrims has been constructed at the Nunwan base camp in Pahalgam. The hospital has about 30 beds, and more than 25 health workers are posted there, including seven specialist doctors. These employees associated with the Department of Health are deployed 24 hours a day to treat Amarnath pilgrims.
I am eagerly waiting for the Amarnath Yatra. My house and my business are run by these pilgrims. Said Farooq. Farooq Ahmad is a resident of Pahalgam and has been serving Amarnath yatris for more than 15 years. Farooq sells wooden walking sticks to the pilgrims to help them climb the mountain.
We spoke to a physically challenged person who left for the holy cave from the Nunwan base camp at Pahalgam. He said that even though my legs are not working, I have participated in the Amarnath Yatra many times before, and even today I still have that enthusiasm in me. I will climb this mountain with my hands and have darshan of Bole.
Stringent security arrangements have been put in place for the smooth conduct of the yatra. Thousands of security personnel from the police, Central Reserve Police Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, and other paramilitary forces have been deployed to ensure foolproof security. Aerial surveillance will also be carried out.
A good number of men as well as women were seen among the devotees visiting Baba Barfani. Devotees were seen dancing to the beat of the drum.
The 52-day pilgrimage will begin from the twin tracks—tthe traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag and the 14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal—oon Saturday and conclude on August 19.