The annual 57-day Amarnath Yatra commenced on Friday as the first group of pilgrims set off for the 3,880-metre-high holy cave shrine in the south Kashmir Himalayas, officials confirmed. The journey began amid intermittent rain from twin base camps – the traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag district and the 14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal district – starting at first light.
Pilgrims Flagged Off Amid Chants and Security
Batches of devotees, including men, women, and seers, departed from the Nunwan base camp in Pahalgam and the Baltal base camp in Sonamarg, with chants of "Bum bum Bhole" resonating through the air. The respective deputy commissioners and senior superintendents of police flagged off the groups, officials said. Stringent security arrangements were in place, with thousands of personnel from the police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and other paramilitary forces deployed, alongside aerial surveillance.
Daily Cap on Pilgrims and Registration Rules
The administration has enforced a daily ceiling on the number of pilgrims permitted on the route, as directed by the Supreme Court. "Compliance with this daily ceiling limit is mandatory for the safety of pilgrims and for the smooth conduct of the yatra," an advisory stated. Advance registration was made available through bank branches nationwide and online channels before the yatra began. Most pilgrims completed registration in advance, leaving extremely limited Tatkal (on-spot) slots. The advisory urged all pilgrims to reach Jammu and Kashmir only after completing advance registration and to travel only on their registered date.
PM Modi Urges Five Pledges for Pilgrims
In a two-page letter to pilgrims, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged them to take five pledges, including maintaining cleanliness and promoting the 'vocal for local' campaign by supporting local businesses in Jammu and Kashmir. He also asked devotees to follow security and traffic instructions during the pilgrimage. Noting that the yatra will conclude on Raksha Bandhan, Modi encouraged pilgrims to gift their brothers and sisters a sapling to promote greenery. He also pushed for 'Rashtra Pratham' (Nation First) and contribution towards making India a developed nation.
Vice President Greets Devotees
Vice President C P Radhakrishnan extended greetings on the commencement of the yatra, stating in a post on X, "As the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra commences today, I extend my heartiest greetings and best wishes to all the devotees undertaking this sacred pilgrimage." He described the yatra as one of India's most revered and ancient pilgrimages, reflecting the timeless spiritual heritage of Bharat and its enduring traditions of faith and devotion. He added that for centuries, devotees have undertaken this journey to the Amarnath Cave, reaffirming values of unity, harmony, and spiritual awakening.
Security Review and Yatra Duration
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Shridhar Patil reviewed security arrangements, preparedness, and coordination among security agencies deployed for the ongoing yatra in Jammu. The DIG, who oversees three border districts of Jammu, Samba, and Kathua, chaired a security review meeting on Thursday night at the district police lines in Jammu. The 57-day pilgrimage will conclude on August 28, covering both the Nunwan-Pahalgam and Baltal routes.
