Srinagar: The 40-day annual pilgrimage to the Amarnath shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas ended on Monday, with 260,000 pilgrims offering prayers this year despite a terror attack on a bus that left eight devotees dead. This year’s figure of pilgrims visiting the shrine is the second lowest in the past 14 years. Last year, only 220,000 pilgrims had visited the cave shrine due to the summer unrest. After traditional rituals at the sanctum sanctorum, the holy mace would start the return journey before dusk later today. The holy mace would return to its abode at Amareshwar temple at Dashnami Akhara here the same day, the officials said.

Source: Mint August 07, 2017 07:41 UTC