With Amarnath Yatra all set to begin on Saturday, the Mountain Rescue Teams of Jammu and Kashmir Police conducted mock exercises on both routes-Pahalgam and Baltal axis, in preparation for the yatra.
The Khatu Shyam temple in Uttar Pradesh's Hapur has come up with a dress code for its devotees. In an order issued by the temple committee, devotees have been requested to wear 'decent' clothes to the temple.
Despite facing numerous obstacles like extreme weather conditions and landslides, a large number of devotees are reaching Uttarakhand's Kedarnath Dham.
Minister of Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments, PK Sekar Babu said, "The state government will ensure devotees can take darshan without any hindrance. Efforts are being made to bring Chidambaram Natarajar Temple under HR&CE".
The Yatra started on June 20 from the Puri Jagannath temple and concluded at Shree Gundicha temple, covering nearly a 3-kilometre distance. The deities had a nine-day sojourn at the Gundicha temple. They return to Shree Mandir after completing the Yatra on the same chariots during the 'Bahud
According to the Uttarkashi district administration, in the last four days, about one thousand Shiva devotees have returned from Gangotri and Gomukh after collecting Gangajaal. Shiva devotees will offer water to Lord Shiva on July 15, the Shivratri of Sawan month.
"Respecting the faith of the Kanwar devotees, there should be no sale and purchase of meat in the open anywhere on the Kanwar Yatra route. Cleanliness-sanitization should be maintained on the yatra route," stated a release from the Uttar Pradesh government.
In light of the upcoming festivals, Shravani Shivratri, Nagpanchami, Rakshabandhan, Bakrid and Muharram, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath reviewed the preparations on Tuesday and provided essential directions and amenities to the devotees in the public interest.
The annual four-day-long Ambubachi Mela commenced on June 22, and after the Pravritti ceremonies, the temple's main door was closed for three days and three nights, scheduled to reopen on June 26. The devotees have been seen waiting in a long queue on the temple premises.