Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off the first batch of pilgrims for the annual Amarnath Yatra early Wednesday morning from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu, marking the beginning of the 36-day sacred pilgrimage to the revered Amarnath cave shrine.
Sinha, who also serves as the chairman of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), was joined by senior officials from the civil administration and police during the ceremonial send-off. Loud chants of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai”, “Bum Bum Bhole”, and “Barfani Baba Ne Bulaya Hai” filled the air as nearly 6,000 enthusiastic Yatris from across India set off in two heavily escorted convoys bound for the base camps at Pahalgam in Anantnag and Baltal in Ganderbal districts.
According to officials, a total of 5,892 pilgrims departed from Jammu. Of these, 3,403 pilgrims are headed to the Nunwan (Pahalgam) base camp, while 2,489 are en route to the Baltal base camp.
This year’s Yatra is being held under unprecedented security arrangements, especially in the wake of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, where 26 civilians lost their lives in an assault attributed to Pakistan-backed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants.
To ensure the safety of pilgrims, an additional 180 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) have been deployed, supplementing the existing security presence of the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and other paramilitary units. Surveillance drones, jammers, and mobile bunkers have also been integrated into the Yatra security grid.
The Yatra officially begins on Thursday, July 3, and will conclude on August 9, coinciding with the festivals of Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan.
The holy Amarnath cave shrine is nestled at an altitude of 3,888 metres in the Himalayas and houses a naturally formed ice stalagmite, which is revered by devotees as a manifestation of Lord Shiva.
Pilgrims can undertake the journey through two main routes:
• Pahalgam Route: Considered the traditional path, it involves a four-day trek covering 46 kilometers via Chandanwari, Sheshnag, and Panchtarni before reaching the shrine.
• Baltal Route: A shorter but steeper 14-kilometer trek, which allows pilgrims to return to the base camp the same day after completing their darshan.
Both routes offer breathtaking views but also test the physical endurance of the pilgrims due to challenging terrain and high altitude.
With faith and devotion in their hearts, and massive logistical and security preparations in place, thousands of pilgrims have now embarked on their spiritual journey to seek the divine blessings of Barfani Baba.
Sorry, there was a YouTube error.
