NEWS

Online registration for Amarnath yatra this year

By Mukhtar Ahmad
May 04, 2011 22:44 IST
This year's annual pilgrimage to the cave shrine of Amarnath nestled in the Himalayas in south Kashmir is slated to begin from June 29. The month and a half long yatra shall end on August 13, coinciding with the 'Raksha Bandan' festival.

According to an official handout, the registration of the intending yatris shall begin on May 10 across the country and shall be made on first-come-first-served basis. The branches of the Jammu and Kashmir bank shall as usual act as registration centre for the pilgrimage.

According to R K Goyal, chief executive officer of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, the registration will be done through a yatra permit which will be issued on the submission of the application form, duly filled in, along with the payment of handling charges of Rs15 per yatri.

Goyal cautioned the pilgrims against undertaking this arduous yatra without securing a permit.

He stressed that for 'effective security and arrangements along the difficult tracks, only those yatris will be allowed to enter and proceed beyond the base camps who are in possession of the permit which is valid for a specified date and route.

Goyal appealed to all those who intend to undertake the pilgrimage to early complete the necessary formalities for registration and timely obtain the permit, in their own interest, so that no inconvenience is faced by any yatri.

Goyal stated that the interested yatris can reserve their helicopter seats through the web-based online reservation system, by logging on to the Shrine Board's website, from May 10 onwards.

It was further informed that special emphasis is being laid on the preservation of the ecology and environment of the yatra area.

Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar

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