Bandipora, Aug 31: District administration here revived pilgrimage to a cave shrine located in dense woods of Bandipora on Thursday, the day 60 day long Amarnath Yatra came to an end.
Called Chota Amarnath Yatra, pilgrimage to a cave sacred to Hindus resumed after a gap of almost a decade.
The Deputy Commissioner (DC) Bandipora, Dr Owais Ahmed flagged-off the Yatra which was joined by pilgrims from different places, an official spokesman said.
“The Chota Amarnath Yatra holds immense significance for the devout, as it provides an opportunity to pay homage at the holy cave, which is considered to be an abode of Lord Shiva in the woods of Arin Dardpora, Bandipora”, he said.
This year, the yatra was planned meticulously by district administration Bandipora after a round of deliberations with the local Kashmiri Pandit community. Many developmental works were done for the first time along the yatra route so as to help the pilgrims.
Recent initiatives include the development of track until Maha Daneshwar Temple, also known as Chota Amarnath Cave, setting up of washrooms, langer facilities, deployment of medical teams and provision of other basic amenities.
It is worth mentioning here that besides local residents, many people settled outside J&K also took part in the yatra. Efforts were made by the administration for the safe journey of such yatris. Festive atmosphere was witnessed across Bandipora town and especially at Dardpora village, which is the start point of the yatra.
The DC informed that the 15 kilometer long Yatra will take place through the Arin-Dardpora route via Shamthan and finally to Chota Amarnath Cave. He further informed that the district administration has collaborated with various departments to ensure smooth coordination and support for the pilgrims throughout their journey.
SSP Bandipora Lakshay Sharma, officers from district administration, volunteers besides senior citizens of the town were present on the occasion.
