Pilgrims embark on the annual Amarnath Yatra from Jammu on June 28, 2017 | Photo Credit: IANS

New Delhi: In what has left pilgrims infuriated, the National Green Tribunal on Wednesday directed the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) that there should be no chanting of 'mantras' or 'jaykaras' in Amarnath.

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An NGT bench headed by chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar also directed that pilgrims would have to deposit all mobiles and belongings at the last check post. From there, there should be a single queue of people walking towards the cave, said the NGT.

The bench also said that there should be no ringing of bells in the cave temple.

The NGT has said that the move is aimed at preserving ecology and preventing landslides.

However, Twitterati have called the NGT's move as "insensitive".

NGT is being insensitive and provocative. surely they know they are hurting the believers but they wont protest beyond a point. not good. need intervention. — shilpi tewari (@shilpitewari) December 13, 2017

National Goonda Tribunal — Gita S. Kapoor (@GitaSKapoor) December 13, 2017

So do the pilgrims make so much noise that they are destroying the ecology just by their voice? And how many landslides have happened there so far? How about creating barriers OR erecting noise reduction equipment like that done on some flyovers? — Yumm D (@mdesai71) December 13, 2017

Mantras cause Landslide? Mantras uproot Trees? #NGT Justice Swatanter Kumar what are you high on. Mind u the walk to the shrine is a long one and Mantras give the devotees reqd energy & motivation. This is a directive against Hindu faith @narendramodi @rajnathsingh @BJP4India. — Varadraj (@varadadya) December 13, 2017

Now it's a limit of intolerance, now they restricted chanting bell at amarnath, every Hindu who have faith in Lord shiva come out and protest against shrine board J&K — Mukesh (@Mukesh62301688) December 13, 2017

The NGT had in November suggested that the area around the Amarnath Shrine cave should be declared a "silence zone" to prevent avalanches and asked to put a stop to throwing food offerings and coconuts near and inside the cave.

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The tribunal had also suggested replacing the iron rods installed inside the Amarnath cave with security personnel so that pilgrims can get a better view of the shrine.

Lakhs of people perform Amarnath Yatra, a pilgrimage to a shrine in the Himalayas in Jammu and Kashmir, every year.

The Yatra is usually undertaken between July and August.

Situated at 3,888 metres above sea level, the shrine houses an ice stalagmite structure that waxes and wanes with the size of the visible moon.

Devotees believe the ice stalagmite structure symbolises mythical powers of Lord Shiva.

During the pilgrimage, the cave is approached by pilgrims either through the 46-km-long traditional Pahalgam-Chandanwari-Sheshnag-Panchtarni trek or through the 14-km-long Baltal-Dumail trek.

