Highlights:
- Amarnath Yatra 2020 to being in July and end in August
- Government and authorities have put strict rules for pilgrims who wish to go on Amarnath Yatra
- The duration of the Yatra has reduced this time because owing to the Coronavirus pandemic
Amarnath Yatra 2020 will take place as confirmed by the authorities and the government, however, this year’s annual Yatra to the shrine in the Himalayas will only be of 14 days, a fortnight.
This was confirmed by the officials from Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) which manages all the affairs pertaining to the Yatra to the cave shrine which is situated at the height of 3,880 metres from the sea level in Jammu & Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
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Amarnath Yatra 2020 will begin on the 21st of July and end on the 3rd of August. The “Pratham Puja” of the Yatra was held on Friday, 5th June 2020. The duration of the Yatra has been reduced this year owing to the novel Coronavirus whose cases are now on a rise in the country.
Except for Sadhus, no pilgrims allowed over the age of 75 will be allowed to undertake the Amarnath Yatra this year. Also, children under the age of 13 years and 6 week pregnant ladies will not be allowed either to undertake the Yatra this year.
Additionally, the pilgrims will be required to have a COVID-19 negative certificate. An official from SASB said, “The pilgrims will be cross-checked for the virus before they are allowed to undertake the Yatra on entry into J&K”.
All the pilgrims will have to register themselves for the Yatra, online, except for Sadhus. It has also declared that the “Aarti” which will be performed at the cave shrive at both times i.e. morning and evening, during 15 days, will be live telecasted for the devotees all around the country.
Also, the officials say that owing to the unavailability of the local manpower and the difficulties in maintaining the road and tracks from the base camp to the cave shrine, Amarnath Yatra 2020 will be undertaken using helicopters from Baltal base camp in Ganderbal district to the Amarnath cave shrine.
Amarnath Yatra 2020 will only use the north Kashmir Baltal route, the officials said, adding, “No pilgrim will be allowed to undertake this year’s Yatra through the Pahalgam route”. Yatra 2020 will conclude on August 3 on Shravan Purnima which coincides with the Raksha Bandhan festival.
