J-K: 62-day-long Amarnath Yatra concludes, thousands of devotees offer prayers at cave shrine

Anantnag (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], August 31 (ANI): The 62-day-long annual Amarnath Yatra, a pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine of Amarnath concluded successfully after two months on Thursday.
The Yatra, which began on July 1, witnessed the participation of thousands of devotees from different parts of India.

Md Yassen, the senior officer, of Pantha Chowk Yatra Base Camp said that the authorities deployed additional security forces and established control rooms and medical facilities along the Yatra route as part of the security measures for a successful Yatra.
"The continuous monitoring and coordination between different agencies helped in maintaining a smooth and incident-free Yatra. The efforts of the government and the local administration, coupled with the cooperation of the pilgrims, resulted in the successful completion of the Amarnath Yatra," he added.
This pilgrimage holds immense religious significance for Hindus, who believe that visiting the Amarnath cave brings them closer to Lord Shiva.
Yaseen further said that the langers, sanitary system, tents and other facilities which were set up by the administration in Pantha Chowk yatra base camp Srinagar are now backing back as today is the last day of Amarnath yatra. 
Earlier, on Tuesday, ‘Chhari Mubarak’ popularly known as the holy mace of Lord Shiva had left for Sheshnaag in the morning hours from Chandanwari in Pahalgam to mark the culmination of the Amarnath Yatra.
The Chhari Mubarak had spent the night at Chandanwar Pahalgam before heading to Sheshnaag.
The rituals for the holy ‘Chhari Mubarak’ mark the culmination of the annual Amarnath Yatra.
The annual pilgrimage to the historic Budha Amarnath temple in the Mandi area of ​​Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir also culminated on the day of Raksha Bandhan.
This pilgrimage has been the best example of secularism and is like an annual festival in which local Muslims also participate actively. At Sports Stadium Poonch where the base camp was established, dozens of Muslim youths volunteered to serve the pilgrims every day. (ANI)