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The Story of a Pair of White Pigeons at Amarnath Cave and Amarnath Yatra

A natural ice Shivling gets formed in the holy cave of Amarnath and it attains its full form and height on the night of the Shravan Purnima (Full moon day in August). This wonder takes place at a narrow gorge in the Lidder valley in Anantnag District of Jammu and Kashmir – the cave Temple of Amarnath. Annually, more than 400,000 pilgrims from India and around the world visit the shrine during the Amarnath Yatra period in July and August. There is a popular belief that sighting a pair of White Pigeons at the shrine is highly auspicious.

Legend has it that Hindu God Shiva once explained the secret of creation and immortality to his consort Goddess Parvati at the Amarnath Cave. A Pair of pigeons were mating in the cave and they overheard the teachings and attained immortality. It is said that the two pigeons are ever present in the cave.

Sighting a pair of white pigeons in the cave is therefore considered to be highly auspicious and meritorious during the Amarnath Yatra.

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