On Saturday, over 13,000 pilgrims embarked on the annual Amarnath Yatra in the south Kashmir Himalayas amid stringent security measures. The pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine, situated at an altitude of 3,880 metres, commenced with the departure of the first batch from Baltal and Nunwan base camps.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his greetings to the pilgrims, emphasizing the spiritual significance of the journey to seek blessings from Lord Shiva. He expressed his wishes for the devotees to be energized by the darshan of Baba Barfani.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah affirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring a safe and seamless pilgrimage experience, highlighting the Yatra’s cultural importance and wishing devotees well for their darshan.
The pilgrimage began early morning via the traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route and the shorter 14-km Baltal route. A total of 13,736 pilgrims, including 3,300 females, 52 children, 102 sadhus, and 682 security personnel, visited the cave shrine on the first day.
Security arrangements included deployment of personnel from police and paramilitary forces, alongside aerial surveillance, to ensure safety along the route.
The 52-day Yatra will conclude on August 19, with ONGC also setting up 100-bed hospitals at both base camps to cater to pilgrims beyond the Yatra period.
Last year, more than 4.5 lakh pilgrims had visited the shrine, underscoring its enduring popularity and religious significance.
