Srinagar: The Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) has not yet taken any formal decision about conducting the religious pilgrimage to the holy cave of Lord Shiva, a top civil administrator in Kashmir said.
Amid COVID-19 cases spiking up in Jammu and Kashmir, it is being averred that holding yatra during this pandemic will be hazardous for pilgrims.
"No final decision has been taken yet by the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (about conducting the yatra)," Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole told ETV Bharat in an exclusive interview.
On July 5, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu and his family visited the holy Amarnath cave shrine, performed a special ‘pooja’ (prayers) at the cave shrine and wished for peace.
The administration has been making preparations and holding meetings for conducting the religious pilgrimage to the Cave of Lord Shiva located in upper hills of Pahalgam in South Kashmir's Anantnag district.
“There is a difference between a religious congregation and religious formalities,” Pole told ETV Bharat.
Earlier this month, Shri Amarnath Yatra officials said that the yatra will be conducted for 15 days beginning July 23 till August 3 after the board issued guidelines and advisories for pilgrims. However, the board has not yet issued any formal dates for conducting the yatra.
The duration of the 42-day long pilgrimage, scheduled to begin on June 23, was cut short this year's time because of the coronavirus pandemic.
All the arrangements for conducting yatra are decided by the SASB in coordination with the civil and security administration in Jammu and Kashmir.
Last year, the yatra was cut short two days ahead of the schedule before the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5.
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