Amarnath Yatra registration to commence on March 1

Jammu: The registration of pilgrims for this year`s annual Yatra to the Himalayan cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir will start from March 1. "The process of registering Yatris for this year`s Amarnathji Yatra shall commence on 1st March, 2014, simultaneously for both the Baltal and Chandanwari routes, through 425 designated Bank Branches", Chief Executive Officer, Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), Navin K Choudhary said here tonight. In an extensive review meeting held today by the Shrine Board Chairman, N N Vohra and other concerned functionaries, the Board decided that the Registration process should start earlier by March 1 for Yatra 2014. For Yatra 2013 the Registration process had commenced on March 18. The pilgrims can register themselves through 425 designated branches of J-K Bank, Yes Bank and Punjab National Bank across the country, SSB CEO Choudhary added. Full details of all the Registration Centres was made available on Board?s website, www.Shriamarnathjishrine.Com. The CEO further stated that this year`s Yatra shall commence on June 28 and culminate on Raksha Bandhan day August 10. The applicant must have to submit Compulsory Health Certificate while seeking registration for this year`s Amarnathji Yatra, he said. The format of the Compulsory Health Certificate has been circulated by the Union Health Ministry and the J-K State Health Department to all States/ UTs and is also available on the shrine Board`s website. The CEO further informed that for ensuring against the use of fraudulent Health Certificates, only such a Certificate which has been issued by a Doctor or Medical Institute authorised by the concerned State Government / UT Administration will be valid for registration. He also informed that all States/ UTs have been asked to furnish lists of Doctors / Medical Institutes who would be authorised to issue the Certificates to the eligible Yatris. The CEO informed that the lists will be put on the website as soon as these are received. He said that, for Yatra 2014, Health Certificates issued after 1st February, 2014 would be valid. Cautioning the pilgrims against undertaking this arduous Yatra without securing a Yatra Permit, Choudhary stressed that, for ensuring effective security arrangements along the difficult tracks, only those pilgrims who are in possession of the Permit which is valid for a specified date and route will be allowed to proceed beyond the Base Camps, and cross the Entry Gates at Domel and Chandanwari. The CEO appealed to all intending pilgrims to early complete the necessary formalities for the registration and timely obtain a Yatra Permit, in their own interest, so that they do not face any inconvenience on the date of their Yatra.