In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the 62-day-long annual pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine of Shri Amarnathji situated at an altitude of 3,888 meters in south Kashmir Himalayas, which started on July 1 this year, has come to an end today.

Devotees visited the holy Amarnathji cave via the shortest Baltal track in Sonamarg area of Ganderbal district and from Pahalgam track in south Kashmir's Anantnag district. Meanwhile,  a large number of pilgrims particularly Kashmiri Pandits are thronging the ancient chota Amaranth ji cave in Thaejwari hamlet in Bijbehara area of Anantnag district since early morning to pay their obeisance to Lord Shiva on the occasion of Shravan Purnima today.

Akashvani Correspondent report:

On the auspicious occasion of Shravan Purnima coinciding the raksha Bandhan festival today, the holy mace Chhari Mubarak led by Mahant Deependra Giri reached the Shri Amarnathji ji cave in the early hours today thus marking the culmination of this year's 62 days long Yatra. On the occasion, traditional rituals and pooja Archana of the Chhari Mubarak was performed by chanting vedic hymns amidst the sound of quanch shells that charged and reveberated the whole atmosphere in and around the holy cave where Lord Shiva had told Amar Katha to His Shakti Goddess Parvati.  About 4.5 lakh devotees drawn from various parts of the country have paid their obeisance to the naturally formed ice shivlingam in the cave since its commencement on July 1st this year.Elaborate arrangements were put in place by the Union Territory Administration for the peaceful and successful yatra. Local muslim population also rendered every possible assistance and cooperation for this year's Yatra.  Sunil Koul, Akashwani News, Srinagar.