The annual Amarnath Yatra commenced on Saturday with the first batch of pilgrims departing from the twin base camps in Baltal and Nunwan. The devotees began their ascent to the 3880-meter-high cave shrine located in the south Kashmir Himalayas, according to officials.
The journey started early morning along the traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route and the shorter 14-km Baltal route. Local deputy commissioners, alongside senior police and civil administration officials, flagged off the batches of pilgrims embarking on these twin routes.
On Friday, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha had flagged off the initial batch of 4,603 pilgrims from the Yatri Niwas base camp in Bhagwati Nagar, Jammu. These pilgrims reached the Kashmir Valley in the afternoon and were warmly welcomed by both the administration and local residents.
Officials have implemented stringent security measures to ensure the smooth conduct of the Yatra. Thousands of personnel from the police, Central Reserve Police Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, and other paramilitary forces are deployed along the routes. Additionally, aerial surveillance is being carried out to maintain security.
On the following day, a second batch consisting of 1,881 pilgrims departed from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp under tight security. This group, including 427 women and 294 seers, traveled in 200 vehicles divided into two separate convoys, escorted by security forces. The first convoy carrying 1,069 devotees headed to Baltal at 4 am, while the second convoy with 812 pilgrims set off for Pahalgam 30 minutes later.
The pilgrimage, which attracted more than 4.5 lakh devotees last year, will see pilgrims paying obeisance at the cave shrine, home to the naturally formed ice-lingam of Lord Shiva.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his greetings to the pilgrims on the commencement of the Yatra. “My heartfelt best wishes to all pilgrims on the commencement of the holy Amarnath Yatra. This yatra associated with the darshan of Baba Barfani infuses immense energy in the devotees of Lord Shiva. May all devotees prosper with his blessings. Jai Baba Barfani,” Modi posted on X in Hindi.
The 52-day pilgrimage is scheduled to conclude on August 19, marking another year of devout worship and spiritual journey for thousands of Shiva devotees.
