Amarnath: Amidst chants of 'Har Har Mahadev' and 'Jai Bholanath', the first batch of devotees on annual Amarnath pilgrimage on July 12 paid obeisance at the holy Ice Lingam at the cave shrine in Amarnath.

The devotees, who had set off on the pilgrimage on July 9 and trekked through a treacherous route to reach Amarnath, offered prayers and took part in rituals before the holy ice deity.

"For me there is no emotion parallel to the Darshan of Ice Lingam, it gives a feeling of being one with God, that is why I come here again and again," said Sonu Bhardawj of Patiala, on his eighth pilgrimage, as pilgrims bowed before the sacred Lingam in reverence towards Lord Shiva.

Much before dawn, devotees, braving sub-zero temperature, moved out of their tents with torches in hand and took a dip in ice-cold riverines.

Shiv bhakts (pilgrims) from across the sub-continent, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari to Nepal, men, women, children and sadhus, all from diverse backgrounds reflecting the rich diversity nation prayed to the Lord Shiva.

The devotees arrived in Amarnath from base camps in Phalgum and Baltal in two batches till late on July 11 night.

Their numbers multiplied with time, and they settled themselves in tents put up around the holy cave.

PTI