Holy Ice-lingam melts in Amarnath cave shrine

The holy Ice Lingam of Lord Shiva, built automatically inside the cave shrine of Amarnath, has melted completely due to heavy influx of pilgrims this year. However, notwithstanding the condition of Ice Lingam, a batch of 1,455 pilgrims left here Tuesday for onward journey to the cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir Himalayas.

Comprising 863 men, 169 women, 35 children and 388 sadhus, the 32nd batch left from the base camp at Bhagwati Nagar here in a fleet of 41 vehicles at 1130 hours, officials said.

The pilgrims are expected to reach their respective destinations of Baltal and Nunwan in Pahalgam base camps by this evening, they said.

With today's batch, as many as 76,435 pilgrims have left from here to perform darshan of the naturally formed Ice-lingam at the 3,888 metre high cave shine.

Source: Zeenews