Amarnath Yatra in Jammu and Kashmir cancelled

The annual Amarnath pilgrimage has been cancelled for the second consecutive year and will be 'symbolic only' Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha said. The Yatra has been cancelled due to the ongoing pandemic.

Jammu: The annual Amarnath yatra in Jammu and Kashmir will not take place this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, LG Manoj Sinha announced on Monday. However, "aarti" will be facilitated online for the devotees. The decision was announced by Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha after discussions with the shrine board.

"Shri Amarnathji Yatra cancelled in wake of Covid-19 Pandemic. Decision after threadbare discussion with Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board members. Yatra to be symbolic only. However, all the traditional religious rituals shall be performed at the Holy Cave Shrine as per past practice" LG tweeted.

This will be the third consecutive year for the Amarnath yatra to be cancelled. In 2019, the yatra was abruptly cancelled before the centre abrogated the special status of Jammu and Kashmir on August 5. Last year also, the yatra was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The rituals for the yatra will be held at the Amarnath shrine cave in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district, just like last year, and be broadcast live in the morning and the evening for the devotees.

The 56-day pilgrimage to the 3,880-metre-high shrine was scheduled to start from the twin routes of Pahalgam and Baltal from June 28 and culminate on August 28. The registration for the yatra, which started on April 1, was suspended on April 22 due to the second wave of COVID-19.