In view of the prevailing Covid-19 circumstances, Jammu and Kashmir Government today canceled this year’s annual pilgrimage of Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra. However, all the traditional religious rituals shall be performed at the Holy Cave Shrine as per past practice.
A threadbare discussion in this regard was held with the members of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board in view of the present Covid-19 situation before arriving at the decision. subsequently, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who is also Chairman of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board held detailed deliberations with Chief Secretary, DGP, Principal Secretary, and Principal Secretary to Lt Governor and directed that devotees should be enabled to attend to morning and evening Aarti in online mode.
The meeting was informed that Shrine Board has put in place a virtual and televised mechanism for live Darshan of Aarti from the holy cave.
Lieutenant Governor said that it is important to save the lives of the people in view of the pandemic and subsequently not advisable to hold and conduct this year’s pilgrimage in the larger public interest.
Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board CEO said the shrine board has made the arrangements for the mace of Lord Shiva- Chhari Mubarak’ to be taken to the holy cave on 22nd August when the yatra is to conclude coinciding with the festival of Raksha Bandhan.
He said that both morning telecast of Aarti at 6 AM and evening Aarti at 5 PM, each for 30 minutes would be live-streamed on Shri Amarnath ji Shrine board’s official website and the app specifically dedicated for the devotees.
By Vishal Sharma
Vishal Sharma is an experienced Indian journalist, cyber security consultant, social activist, and poet writing under the pen name Surur Akbarabadi. With over two decades in journalism, he has worked across print, digital, and TV media, including notable roles at The Indian Express, The Pioneer, Indo-American Times, and Business Standard. He is currently the editor of Agra24.in, a bilingual news portal focused on Agra, which he co-founded to provide in-depth analysis and balanced reporting. Based in Agra and Lucknow, Vishal balances his professional commitments with family life. Academically, he has studied Life Sciences, Law, and Business Management, and has pursued studies in journalism and mass communication. His journalism covers current affairs, business, and social issues, with a focus on factual reporting and avoiding controversial topics that could harm social harmony. As a poet inspired by Urdu legends like Ghalib and Nazir Akbarabadi, Vishal’s work combines personal insight with societal critique. He actively promotes communal harmony through his role as Vice-Chairman of Hindustani Biradari, an organization founded to emphasize unity beyond religion and caste. He is also Secretary of the Agra Tourist Welfare Chamber and was also a member of Agra’s Heritage and History Conservation Committee, working to preserve the city’s cultural heritage. Professionally, Vishal brings his cyber security expertise to his media work, enhancing the technical and editorial quality of his news platforms. His interests include photography and travel, particularly exploring India’s diverse landscapes and cultural heritage sites like Rajasthan, especially Sariska. His contributions reflect a steady commitment to journalism, cultural preservation, and social cohesion without excessive embellishment.