By IANS,
Jammu : The pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave shrine in Jammu and Kashmir is unlikely to start as scheduled June 29 due to heavy snow and rains, officials say.
The ice stalagmite considered an icon of Lord Shiva has also not been spotted yet.
Too much snow accumulation on the track and poor weather conditions prevented a helicopter carrying representatives of Hindu religious groups and the Amarnath shrine board from landing near the site.
As a result, the first prayers could not be held at the shrine.
It has also been raining heavily in some portions of the track, according to informed sources.
The shrine board is making efforts to put all arrangements in place by June 25 to start the pilgrimage from June 29, but snow clearance is being hampered by snowfall and rains en route.
“The situation is such that so far no one has had a glimpse of the Shivlingam (the ice stalagmite considered an icon of Lord Shiva), the main attraction for pilgrims,” an official told IANS.
Normally, nomads would trek to the area in March-April and often click pictures to show the size of the Shivlingam. “It’s really difficult this time,” the official said.