BREAKING NEWS : AMARNATH YATRA : JUNK AND FAST FOODS BANNED ON MENU LIST FOR PILGRIMS AS SHRI AMARNATHJI SHRINE BOARD ISSUES HEALTH ADVISORY

BY TTT NEWS NETWORK

KOLKATA, 9 JUNE 2023:

This year the Amarnath Yatra begins on 1 July and ends on 31 August. In this sixty two days pilgrimage journey of a 14 kilometres long trek, the Amarnath Yatra Shrine Board has issued a new health advisory for the pilgrims, show owners, ewateries and langars and has banned several popular fast and junk foods.

Registration of pilgrims of Amarnath Yatra has already started and this year about five lakhs pilgrims are expected to visit the holy shrine. Helicopter bookings will be avaialble from srecond week of June.

Besides giving a list of names of foods which are banned and foods which are allowed it has also advsied the pilgrims to have regular morning and evening walks. Deep breathing exercises and yoga has also been suggested. The shrine is located about 14,000 feets high above the sea level. This year there will be 120 langars ( community kitchen) in the route.

In 2022 about 42 pilgrims have died during Amarnath Yatra due to natural causes. This yaer the government has taken extra precautions like setting up oxygen booths and health units near the routes. A health certificate will also be mandatory.

Advisory to avoid Hypothermia-

In view of cold weather conditions in high altitude sites in the yatra area where temperature abruptly falls 2 – 5 degree Celsius , yatris especially elderly people may suffer from hypothermia.

Symptoms of Hypothermia-

Shivering is likely the first thing you’ll notice as the temperature starts to drop because it’s your body’s automatic defence against cold temperature — an attempt to warm itself. Signs and symptoms of hypothermia include:

In mild to moderate cases-

Shivering
Slurred speech or mumbling
Slow, shallow breathing
Weak pulse
Clumsiness or lack of coordination.

In severe conditions-

Drowsiness or very low energy
Confusion or memory loss
Loss of consciousness

Following measures are suggested to prevent Hypothermia-

A healthy diet with plenty of fluids with warm drinks and regular meals can help provide energy so that the body can generate heat.
Avoiding of alcohol, caffeine and smoking as they all increase the rate at which the body loses heat.
During sleep also, the body should be covered with warm clothes including covering the head and feet.
Before going to sleep, making sure that the underclothes are not wet due to sweat as wet clothes lose around 90% of their insulation power
Avoid bathing during night times even with hot water.

Yatries are also required to bring with them adequate woolen clothing; jacket; warm inners; woolen socks; gloves; cap (preferably a monkey cap ); trousers (preferably a waterproof pair); muffler, sleeping bag; windcheater; raincoat; waterproof shoes; Umbrella (preferably one which is tied with an elastic band around your head and supported by strap around the chin).

HEALTH ADVISORY 2023:

The Pilgrimage to Holy Cave of Shri Amarnathji involves trekking at altitudes as high as 14000 feet.
Yatris may develop High Altitude Sickness with following symptoms: loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, weakness, dizziness, lightheadedness and difficulty in sleeping, visual impairment, bladder dysfunction, bowel dysfunction, loss of coordination of movements, paralysis on one side of the body, gradual loss of consciousness and mental status changes, drowsiness, chest tightness, fullness, congestion, fast breathing and increased heart rate.
If high altitude sickness is not treated timely, it may be lethal in a matter of hours.

FOOD MENU FOR ANNUAL SHRI AMARNATHJI YATRA 2023:

S.No.	Permitted Menu	Banned Menu
1	Cereals, Pulses, Green Vegetables, Potato, Saag, Nutrela Soya Chunks), Besan Curry, Plain Dal, Green Salad, Fruits and Sprouts	All Non Veg foods, Alcohol, Tobacco, Gutka, Pan Masala, Smoking, other intoxicants.
2	Plain Rice, Zeera Rice, Khichri and Nutrela Rice.	Heavy Pullav / Fried Rice.
3	Roti / Phulka, Dal Roti, Missi Roti, Makki ki Roti (unfried, without oil / butter), Tandoori Roti, Bread / Kulcha / Double Rotti, Rusk, Chocolate, Biscuits, Roasted Chana and Jaggery, Sambar, Idli, Uttapam, Poha, Vegetable sandwich (without cream / butter / cheese), Bread Jam, Kashmiri Nan (girda) and steamed Dumplings (vegetable Momos).	Pori, Bathura, Piza, Burgar, Stuffed Parantha, Dosa and Fried Roti, Bread with Butter, Cream Based Foods, Pickle, Chutney, Fried Papad, Chowmein and all other Fried / Fast Food.
4	Herbal Tea, Coffee, Low Fat Curd, Sharbat, Lemon Squash / Water, Low Fat Milk, Fruit Juice, Vegetable Soup, Mineral Water, Glucose (in standard packet form)	Cold Drinks and Karrah.
5	Kheer (Rice / Sabudana), White Oats (Daliya), Figs, Raisins, Apricots, Other Dry fruits (only roasted / raw), Low Fat Milk Sawain, Honey, Boiled Sweets (candy), Roasted papad, Khakra, Til Ka Ladoo, Dhokla, Chikki (Guchak), Reweri, Phulian Makhane, Murmara, Dry Petha, Amla Muraba, Fruit Muraba and Green Coconut.	Halwa, Jalebi, Gulab Jamun, Laddu Khoya Burfi, Rasgulla and all other Halwai items, Crunchy Snacks (high in fat and salts) chips / Kurkure, matthi, Namkeen Mixture, Pakora, Samosa, Fried Dry Fruits and all other Deep Fried Items.