Natural ice Shivling at Amarnath Cave melts within the first five days of the pilgrimage

More than 3 lakh devotees yet to have darshan

Amarnath (Jammu & Kashmir) – The naturally formed ice Shivling inside the Amarnath Cave has almost completely melted within just five days of the commencement of the annual Amarnath Yatra. The pilgrimage still has 54 days remaining. More than 3 lakh registered devotees are yet to undertake the pilgrimage and have darshan.

Around 86,000 devotees visited the holy cave during the first four days of the Yatra. The daily footfall is expected to cross 1 lakh in the coming days. About 4 lakh devotees have registered for this year’s pilgrimage.

According to photographs released by the Border Security Force on 23 May, the ice Shivling was about seven feet high. Even on 29 June, the day of the traditional Pratham Puja, it stood at over five feet. However, photographs that emerged on 6 July show that nearly 90 per cent of the naturally formed ice Shivling has melted.