Srinagar | Saturday, Aug 9 :Fresh batches of pilgrims, probably for the last, left this morning base camps for the holy cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalyas, where so far 3.72 lakh yatris had paid obeisance before the self made Ice-Shivlingam since the commencement of the yatra from June 28.
The weather was cloudy and there was rain also but the pilgrimage was progressing smoothly, yatra officials said.
They said a group of about 50 pilgrims, who had arrived at Nunwan Pahalgam base camp from Jammu last evening left early this morning to join the Chhari-Mubarak which has reached Panjterni, 5-km short of the cave shrine today.
These pilgrims have to join the Chhari at Panjterni till this evening as the 44-day-long annual pilgrimage will culminate tomorrow after final darshan in the cave shrine.
Now no pilgrim will be allowed on this traditional track, they said, adding that the gates have been closed for this year now.
More than 50 pilgrims, including women and sadhus, left Batal Base camp early this morning for the cave shrine.
If any yatra will reach the base camp even this evening, he or she will be allowed to proceed towards the cave shrine even tomorrow.
It takes only few hours to reach the cave shrine from this track, they said, adding that yatris can also return through this track in one-day.
Officials said that yesterday 1035 pilgrims had paid obeisance to the Ice-Lingam.
However, the pilgrims who had night halt at Panjterni reached the cave shrine this morning.
With this, a total of abut 3.72 lakh pilgrims had paid obeisance at the holy cave this year (news agency).
