The Jammu and Kashmir government today announced cancellation of Amarnath Yatra for the second year running due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. However, even though the annual pilgrimage won't take place, the traditional religious rituals shall be performed at the holy cave shrine as per past practice. Online darshan for millions of devotees worldwide would also be arranged.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who is also the chairman of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, held a threadbare discussion with the members of the board, including Swami Avdheshanand, DC Raina, Devi Prasad Shetty, Anita Billawariya, Sudarshan Kumar, Vishwamurti Shashtri, Bhajan Sopori, C.M. Seth and Tripta Dhawan on the present Covid-19 situation before arriving on the decision.

Sinha subsequently held detailed deliberations with J&K Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Mehta, DGP Dilbag Singh, Principal Home Secretary Shaleen Kabra and Principal Secretary to Lt Governor, Nitishwar Kumar, who is also the CEO of shrine board. He directed that the devotees should be able to attend morning and evening aarti in online mode, allowing them to pay their obeisance while also avoiding travel and exposure.

The meeting was informed that the shrine board has put in place a virtual and televised mechanism for live darshan of aarti from the holy cave.

"It's important to save people's lives. So, it is not advisable to hold and conduct this year's pilgrimage in the larger public interest. Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board is aware of and respects the sentiments of millions of devotees, and to keep the sentiments alive, the board shall continue the live telecast of morning and evening aarti from the Holy Cave shrine," the Lt Governor said.

He also stressed upon the need to follow Covid protocol on the significant and pious days like Pratham Pooja and Samapan Pooja. He further stressed that saints visiting the shrine cave to perform aarti as per 'shastra' would also follow Covid appropriate behavior.

Shrine board CEO Nitishwar Kumar said that they have made the arrangements for the mace of Lord Shiva- 'Chhari Mubarak' to be taken to the holy cave on August 22 when the yatra is to conclude coinciding with the festival of Raksha Bandhan.

He informed that both, morning telecast of aarti (6 AM) and evening aarti (5 PM), each for 30 minutes, is to be live-streamed on Amarnath shrine board's official website and the app specifically dedicated for the devotees.

The devotees can pay their virtual obeisance to the holy Ice Lingam online through the Shrine Board’s link www.shriamarnathjishrine.com/AartiLive.html. The same may also be streamed through the shrine board’s mobile based application which may be downloaded through the link http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ncog.shriamarnath from the Google play store.