Jammu: The registration for this year’s Shri Amarnath Yatra commenced here on Tuesday.
The Yatra will begin on July 3 and conclude on August 9 on the occasion of Rakshabandhan.
The registration this time will be done in 533 branches of different banks across the country.
The registration was to begin at 10 am with opening of banks but enthusiast devotees queued outside various branches much before to avail the registration amid the chants of “Bam Bam Bhole”.
Along with males, women and elderly devotees were also standing in line for the registration.
Devotees said that performing pilgrimage in the beginning days of the yatra is always a blessing of “Bhole Baba” as naturally formed ice “Shivlingam” appears in full form.
Anil Sharma, Circle Head of Punjab National Bank said that this time the registration for Amarnath Yatra was to start on April 14 but due to holiday, the registration started from April 15 (Tuesday).
He said that devotees below 13 years and above 70 years of age and also pregnant women will not be registered for the Yatra.
He stated that advance registration for this yatra will start in 533 branches of four banks across the country. “Devotees of Baba Amarnath can register themselves in 309 branches of Punjab National Bank, 91 branches of Jammu and Kashmir Bank, 34 branches of Yes Bank and 99 branches of State Bank of India across the country,” he revealed.
This time the registration will be done biometrically with a fee of Rs 150. Health certificate is also necessary for registration.
“To ensure that devotees registering from all over the country do not face any problem, Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) has provided information about the banks, hospitals, medical centres and teams of doctors on its website,” said an official.
For the devotees who are planning the pilgrimage with family or group, Shri Amarnath Shrine Board has also provided the facility of group registration.
“For the registration of a group of five or more devotees, registration can be done by sending the application form through a registered post to the Chief Executive Officer of the Board,” he said.
