The Shiv Sena has decided to defy the schedule announced by the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) for this year’s pilgrimage to the cave-shrine in Kashmir Himalayas and said it would hold Poojan prayer there on June 2.
According to the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, this year’s yatra to Amarnath, spreading over 59 days, will begin on July 2, coinciding with Purshotam Purnima, an auspicious day in the Hindu calendar, and conclude on Shravan Purnima or Raksha Bandhan, which will fall on August 29.
But Shiv Sena state president Dimpy Kohli and other leaders told a press conference in Jammu on Friday that “as per centuries-old Hindu traditions, the first Poojan used to be held at Amarnath on Jyesth Purnima which falls on June 2 this year.” Therefore, Shiv Sena volunteers and others from Hindu organisations will proceed towards the 12,729-foot-high cave-shrine on May 31 from Jammu to perform the ritual on June 2, they said.
Mr Kohli said, “Though the SASB and its chairman, governor N.N. Vohra, have chosen not to respond to several communications on the issue from us, we hope he will make arrangements for this Poojan on June 2 and also permit our volunteers to perform it.” He added, “If the governor fails to do so, our volunteers will proceed to the holy cave at any cost. We don’t understand why the other Hindu organisations like the Bajrang Dal, RSS and even the BJP are silent on this vital issue,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Vohra on Friday presided over a meeting held at Raj Bhavan here to review arrangements for the yatra.