Do’s and don’ts issued for Amarnath pilgrimage

SRINAGAR - The Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) Sunday issued detailed Do’s and Don’ts for pilgrims to the Amarnath cave shrine in Jammu and Kashmir, saying they must first obtain a permit.

The chief executive officer of SASB, Raj Kumar Goyal, Sunday appealed to the yatris (pilgrims) to embark on the pilgrimage only after obtaining a valid ‘yatra permit’.

Goyal said that those pilgrims who, due to unavoidable circumstances, were not able to obtain the required permits so far, should, on arrival at Jammu or Srinagar, obtain these from the counters at the tourist reception centres.

The SASB official clarified that pilgrims not possessing valid permits would not be allowed to proceed on the pilgrimage beyond the south Kashmir Nunwan (Pahalgam) and the north Kashmir Baltal base camps.

The SASB has also issued a detailed advisory of Do’s and Don’ts for the pilgrims visiting the holy cave shrine which are printed on the reverse of the permit.

“The yatris must adhere to these Do’s and Don’ts as they have to undertake an arduous trek through high mountains and would do well to prepare for the yatra by achieving an adequate level of physical fitness,” the official said.

“For this, they should take regular morning/evening walks, about four-five km per day. To improve oxygen efficiency of the body, it may be useful to start deep breathing exercises, preferably ‘Pranayam’,” he said.

“As the yatra involves trekking at an altitude of 14,500 feet, the yatris must have themselves medically examined for the journey. Every yatri is required to self-certify his medical fitness to undertake the yatra while registering for issue of a permit,” the official said.

The pilgrims need to carry adequate woollen clothing, a small umbrella, raincoat, sleeping bag, waterproof shoes, torch, walking stick with a proper hand grip, cap (preferably a monkey cap), gloves, jacket, woollen socks and trousers.

“These things are essential as the weather along the route changes abruptly with temperatures suddenly falling down to five degrees Celsius,” the official said.

The official added that the pilgrims must respect the pristine environment and do nothing whatsoever to pollute it.

“Use of plastic is strictly banned and punishable under law. The yatris have also been advised that cash offerings should be put only in donation boxes of the shrine board. They can also donate through the website of the SASB,” the official said.

“They must neither smoke nor carry/consume any kind of narcotic or alcoholic substance. The yatris have also been asked not to attempt any short cuts on the route,” the official said.