The annual pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir will begin on July 3 and end after 57 days on August 28, Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha said.
Pilgrims between the ages of 13 and 70 can undertake the yatra and registrations will begin from April 15, the LG told reporters at the Lok Bhavan here.
The dates for the yatra were decided at a meeting of the Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board (SASB) chaired by Sinha.
“The Amarnath Yatra will begin on July 3 and end on August 28. Overall, this year’s pilgrimage will be slightly longer and will last for about 57 days,” the LG said.
Registration for the pilgrimage is mandatory and will start from April 15. The minimum age of pilgrims has been set at 13 years and the maximum at 70 years, he said.
“Pre-registration can be done through around 556 designated bank branches across the country, while online registration will also be available through the official website of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board,” Sinha said.
Yes Bank, ICICI Bank, Punjab National Bank, State Bank of India and Axis Bank will facilitate registrations through their branches, he said.
The LG said the first puja will be performed on June 19 on the occasion of Jyeshtha Purnima.
The pilgrimage will start from two routes – the traditional 48 km Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag district and the 14 km shorter but steeper Baltal route in Ganderbal district.
