The Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board on Monday cancelled the annual pilgrimage to the cave shrine of Amarnath located at a height of  around 13,000 feet in the South Kashmir district of Anantnag in the wake of prevailing situation due to Covid-19 pandemic.

The yatra was scheduled to begin from June 28. Lt-Governor Manoj Sinha, who is also the chairman of the Shrine board officially announced the decision after holding threadbare discussions with the members of the Shrine board. In a tweet Lt-Gov Sinha said, “Shri Amarnathji Yatra cancelled in wake of Covid-19 Pandemic. Decision after threadbare discussion with Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board members”. Lt-Gov Manoj Sinha said, “Yatra to be symbolic only. However, all the traditional religious rituals shall be performed at the Holy Cave Shrine as per past practice”. 

“It's important to save people's lives. So, it is not advisable to hold and conduct this year's pilgrimage in the larger public interest”, Sinha said in another tweet.  The Shrine board is also expected to continue the live telecast/ virtual darshan of the morning and evening Aarti from the holy cave shrine.

However, keeping in mind the sentiments of worshippers of lord Shiva, the traditional rituals shall be carried out in the presence of saints  at the shrine without any interruption.  The Shrine Board authorities had extended special invitations to Akhada Parishads, Acharya Parishads and explored the possibility of establishing counters at prominent religious places across the country for facilitation of Sadhu/Sant Samaj.

The yatra was cancelled last year as well due to Covid 19 restrictions. The Shrine board authorities had launched online registration of the pilgrims across different centres of Punjab National Bank.

The same was, however, suspended on April 22 in the wake of a surge in the number of cases of Coronavirus.