Cancellation of Amarnath Yatra: Decision aimed to save lives, says Mahant Deependra Giri

Srinagar, Jun 22: Mahant Deependra Giri, the custodian of the holy mace of Lord Shiva has termed the cancellation of annual Amarnath Yatra pilgrimage for the second consecutive year as an appropriate decision.
Mahant Deependra Giri said that although the decision to cancel the pilgrimage is not pleasant for the pilgrims but keeping view of the pandemic and safety of the lives of lakhs of people who come from across the country for this pilgrimage, volunteers of NGOs, the service providers and government officials who are deployed for the yatra duty, it is an appropriate decision.
“I hope by this time next year, all the citizens of the county shall be fully vaccinated and we can expect to have a usual and normal pilgrimage next year. I also hope that pilgrims who had got themselves registered or this year’s pilgrimage and all those who had planned this year’s pilgrimage shall not be disappointed with the circumstantial decision and shall have Darshan of live Aarti in the morning and evening from holy shrine that Doordarshan shall telecast,” he said.
He added that Chhari-Mubarak reaches holy cave, on the occasion of ‘Shravan Purnima’ that falls on 2nd August this year, “we all collectively shall pray before Swami Amarnath Ji to eradicate and wipe out this nasty pandemic at the earliest and I am sure that lord shall accept our prayers and bless us all.”