SRINAGAR: The 52-day long Amarnath Yatra began today on Saturday, as pilgrims set off for the cave from the base camp in the Kashmir valley.
The yatra convoy, comprising 231 vehicles, was flagged off from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu on Thursday by Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. Chants of “Bum Bum Bhole” and “Har Har Mahadev” resonated as Sinha wished the pilgrims a safe and successful journey.
Upon their arrival in the valley on Friday evening, the pilgrims received warm welcomes with garlands and cheers in districts like Kulgam, Islamabad (Anantnag), Srinagar, and Bandipora.
Significantly, local Muslims joined senior police officials, members of civil society, trade fraternity, fruit growers, and market associations in extending a warm welcome to the yatris.
A large number of pilgrims departed from the Nunwan base camp in Pahalgam for the Holy Amarnath cave. “We welcome all of them. Proper arrangements are in place for their stay,” said Kulgam Deputy Commissioner (DC) Athar Aamir Khan to local media.
The pilgrims entered the valley via the Navyug tunnel in Qazigund area of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district.
From the valley, the 52-day pilgrimage, involving a trek to the holy cave shrine located at an altitude of 3,880 meters, will proceed on two tracks: the traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Islamabad (Anantnag) and the 14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal.
Officials have assured a smooth yatra for over 3.5 lakh registered pilgrims this year, concluding on August 19.
A three-tier security plan has been implemented to ensure pilgrim safety, including area domination, thorough route deployment, and checkpoints. Traffic restrictions will be in place on various routes from today until August 19, with daily advisories issued to minimize commuter inconvenience.
To cater to the pilgrims’ needs, over 125 community kitchens (langars) have been set up along both routes to the holy cave shrine.
These kitchens are supported by more than 6,000 volunteers who will provide food and refreshments to the yatris throughout their journey.
The Amarnath Yatra is a significant cultural event that unites people from various backgrounds. According to Hindu mythology, the Amarnath cave is where Lord Shiva revealed the secrets of life and eternity to Goddess Parvati. The naturally formed ice lingam inside the cave is revered as a manifestation of Lord Shiva himself.
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