Hundreds of devotees lined up at designated centres in Jammu on Tuesday to obtain tokens required for on-the-spot registration of the annual Amarnath Yatra. The 57-day pilgrimage to the 3,880-metre-high Amarnath cave shrine is scheduled to begin on July 3 from the traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag district and the shorter but steeper 14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal district.
First Batch to Depart July 2
The first batch of pilgrims will leave the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu on July 2. On-the-spot registration for token holders will commence on Wednesday. Pilgrims from across the country lined up outside the registration centre from midnight to secure tokens.
Officials said 10 token distribution counters have been set up at the Tawi riverfront near the Jammu Artificial Lake under multi-tier security arrangements. A heavy rush was witnessed in the early hours, keeping security personnel on alert. Over 4,000 people have arrived in Jammu for the pilgrimage.
Pilgrims Express Joy and Hope
Ashwani Kadam from Pune, who arrived with his family of seven, said they had been waiting since Monday night to obtain the token. “We sat in the queue from midnight and waited for the counters to open at 6 am. We are very happy to get the token for registration and are excited to be part of the first batch of pilgrims,” he said. Kadam added that it had long been his family's wish to offer prayers at the cave shrine. “Our wish will finally be fulfilled. We feel blessed,” he said.
Sunita Taneja from Delhi, undertaking the pilgrimage for the seventh time with a group of women, said they had been waiting for several hours. “We have been waiting eagerly. There is some concern regarding the token availability, but everything depends on Baba's (Lord Shiva's) blessings. We are hopeful that we will get the token and have his darshan,” she said.
Another pilgrim, Lal Ji Verma, said, “We have been waiting eagerly. We had Baba's darshan last year and are back again, hoping to have his blessings once more.”
Arrangements and Guidelines
Deputy Commissioner of Jammu, Dr Rakesh Minhas, said the token distribution had begun in a transparent manner. “Ten token counters have been established at the Tawi riverfront. Registration, e-KYC verification and RFID issuance for token holders will begin tomorrow,” he said. Minhas noted that elaborate arrangements had been made for pilgrims, including enhanced registration facilities, accommodation, sanitation, security and traffic management.
“Our token centre, along with e-KYC and RFID registration counters, is fully operational at the Tawi riverfront. Registration counters will also function at Geeta Bhawan, Ram Mandir and Bhagwati Nagar, as in previous years,” he said. Accommodation for around 4,000 pilgrims, over 100 toilets and bathing units, round-the-clock community kitchens (langars), bedding, fans and other essential amenities have been arranged at the venue. The Tawi riverfront will serve as the main facilitation centre.
Clarifying the token process, Minhas said every pilgrim must collect the token in person and only one token would be issued per eligible devotee. “Everyone, including family members, must stand in the queue individually. Children below 13 years and persons above 70 years are not eligible to undertake the pilgrimage as per the prescribed norms,” he said.
