J&K govt extends Amarnath Yatra by 15 days

In a bid to resolve the month-long controversy, Jammu and Kashmir Government on Tuesday agreed to extend the annual Amarnath Yatra by 15 days.

The yatra would now be on for 45 days from the existing 30 days. This was announced by State Governor Lt Gen (retd) S K  Sinha in Srinagar.

In a statement, Sinha thanked Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed for 'readily and graciously' accepting his proposal for permitting performance of religious rituals of 'pratham darshan' (first glimpse) and 'pujan' (ceremonial prayers and obeisance to the holy ice lingam) at Shri Amarnathji Shrine on July 2.

The state government has also given clearance to the official yatra from July 15, the statement issued by the Raj Bhawan said.

This date had to be fixed keeping in view security considerations and provision of essential minimum
infrastructure like, langars, toilet blocks and so on.

The governor, as the chairman of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, will perform the 'pujan' on 'Vyas Purnima' along with a limited number of devotees at the cave shrine.