Srinagar: Two days after the Jammu and Kashmir government announced the schedule for Amarnath Yatra 2023, registration for the annual pilgrimage across the country has begun on Monday. As per reports, in just 24 hours, thousands of people have registered themselves at designated bank branches across the country. The 62-day pilgrimage to the 3,880-metre-high cave shrine in south Kashmir is scheduled to begin on July 1 and continue till August 31. The yatra can be done through two routes, the traditional 48 kilometer route via Pahalgam in Anantnag district. in south Kashmir and the 14 km shorter Baltal route in Ganderbal district of central Kashmir. For the first time, SASB has introduced Aadhaar authentication-based registration for pilgrims as compared to the manual process of previous years.
A bank official said, “Registration has started in 316 bank branches of PNB (Punjab National Bank) across the country. Pilgrims used to receive the forms manually till last year. But now they are system generated. It is mandatory for all intending pilgrims to obtain a health certificate from designated doctors all over India, said the registration officer.
“The schedule of the pilgrimage was decided at the 44th meeting of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) at Raj Bhavan, chaired by Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. The yatra will start simultaneously from both the routes,” officials said.
The Shrine Board will also enable live telecast of morning and evening “Aarti” (prayer) for devotees across the world.
The board, which manages the annual pilgrimage, has designated 542 bank branches across the country for registration of pilgrims, besides the facility on its website.
According to this, no person below 13 years or above 75 years of age and any woman with a pregnancy of more than six weeks shall be registered for the Yatra.
In view of last year’s tragedy, the government has directed all concerned departments to review the area and submit a report before the commencement of the pilgrimage so that all necessary steps can be taken.
The security system, which remains the main concern of the administration throughout the year, is being discussed in detail and security arrangements are being made for three tires with complete modern technology during the pilgrimage.