JK News Today
Srinagar, April 11:
Owing to the perfect arrangements made by the Union Territory administration led by Lieutenant Governor , this year’s Amarnath yatra will be the grandest of all the pilgrimages held so far over the decades . The expectation is that the number of pilgrims will be between six to eight lakh adding to more than 80 lakh tourists that have visited the Valley in the past six months , again an unprecedented and rare feather in cap of the administration.
Secretary Information and Broadcasting, Government of India , Apurva Chand , who visited Srinagar in connection with the yatra that will start from June 30 and last till August 11- Raksha Bandhan, the Hindu festival that marks the bond of sister-brother relations, said that his department would make special arrangements to inform the people across the country about the facilities arranged for the pilgrims in Jammu and Kashmir. “ The I&B ministry will make a short-duration film about the yatra and arrangements made for the pilgrims by the UT administration. This film, which will be screened in cinema halls across the country and also broadcast on Doordarshan will also touch upon the tourist spots as also the development works that have taken place in the UT in the past two and a half years”, indicating that how J&K transformed during the period after the abrogation of Article 370 , which brought J&K under one nation, one constitution concept.
Apurva Chand said that the film would be made in different languages spoken in the country to maximize the reach about the perfect arrangements made for the pilgrims by the UT administration . That, he said, will enable the countrymen to take part in the pilgrimage in large numbers . The current expectations were that up to eight lakh pilgrims will take part in this year’s pilgrimage .
The Amarnath Yatra is devoted to Lord Shiva in a cave known as Amarnath, where the legend goes Lord Shiva narrated the tale of immortality to his consort Goddess Parvati . the cave is located at the height of 5486 meters above sea level passes through beautiful, but challenging Himalayan terrain. It is accessible through Pahalgam- Chandanwari, and Baltal axis. Baltal route is shorter , while Chndanwari route, regarded as the original and traditional one ,takes up to three-four days of trekking.
A naturally made Shivlingam of ice is regarded as an icon of Lord Shiva in the cave .
Apurva Chand said that all these features will be highlighted , through broadcasts and film , across the country.
