Jammu: A significant convoy of over 4,800 pilgrims embarked on their spiritual journey to the Amarnath cave shrine on Wednesday, departing from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu amidst fervent religious chants and a robust security apparatus. The first batch, comprising 259 vehicles, was flagged off by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, marking the commencement of the annual 57-day pilgrimage.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha participated in a special puja at the heavily secured Bhagwati Nagar base camp before officially initiating the yatra. The procession, a mix of buses and private vehicles, was accompanied by a substantial security contingent as it navigated the challenging mountainous terrain of the Jammu division en route to Kashmir. Accompanying Sinha at the flagging-off ceremony were Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat, Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma, BJP MP Jugal Kishore Sharma, local BJP legislators, senior civil and police officials, and representatives from various religious organizations. Information reaching Tahir Rihat suggests that the administration has prioritized seamless arrangements for devotees traveling from across the nation and internationally.
The pilgrimage to the revered Amarnath cave shrine, situated at an altitude of 3,880 meters, will officially commence on July 3. Devotees will have the option of undertaking the journey via two routes: the traditional 48-kilometer Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag district and the shorter, albeit steeper, 14-kilometer Baltal route in Ganderbal district. The yatra is scheduled to conclude on August 28. Lieutenant Governor Sinha extended his well wishes to the pilgrims, stating, “Amarnath Yatra is a sacred path where devotion meets spiritual awakening. I wish all devotees a safe, comfortable, blissful and spiritually fulfilling journey. May this holy pilgrimage bring immense joy and divine peace to all.” The Union Territory administration, in conjunction with the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, the Jammu and Kashmir Police, the Army, other security forces, the local community, and all involved stakeholders, have reportedly made extensive arrangements to facilitate the pilgrimage.
Of the total pilgrims who departed, 2,510 proceeded towards the Pahalgam route in 112 vehicles, while 2,312 pilgrims headed for the Baltal axis in 147 vehicles. Officials had instructed pilgrims to ensure they boarded their designated vehicles prior to the convoy’s departure. The movement of the convoy was secured under a multi-tier security cover, with traffic restrictions and area domination measures implemented along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway to ensure the safe passage of the pilgrims. These traffic restrictions are expected to remain in effect on various stretches of the highway until August 28, with daily advisories and sector-specific cut-off timings being issued to manage vehicular flow effectively.
More than 3.90 lakh devotees have registered for this year’s pilgrimage, and on-the-spot registration facilities have also been made available in Jammu. The entire Jammu region has been placed under a comprehensive security grid, featuring multi-layered deployments and advanced technology-based surveillance systems. Pilgrims arriving from various parts of the country expressed their satisfaction with the arrangements put in place by the administration and security agencies. Manik Sharma, a 42-year-old resident of New Delhi undertaking the pilgrimage for the first time, conveyed his trust in the security forces despite initial concerns about the safety situation in Kashmir. “I was told by many of my friends that the security situation in Kashmir is not stable. But I wanted to come to pay my obeisance at the holy cave shrine,” Sharma was quoted as saying.
Several religious figures, or seers, were also observed boarding buses at the Bhagwati Nagar base camp after spending several days in Jammu. Baba Goga Nath of Junagarh Akhara described the pilgrimage as a blessing and commended the arrangements made for sadhus and devotees. Another seer, Sukham Dass, who arrived with 20 sadhus from Kashi and has been participating in the pilgrimage for the past 32 years, noted that facilities for elderly and specially-abled pilgrims have seen significant improvements over the years. Sunil Chauhan from Rajasthan indicated that he and his family planned to explore tourist destinations in Kashmir after completing their pilgrimage. “This is my second visit to J&K. I visited nearly 11 years ago but the situation was different then. From what I have seen so far, it appears safer now. But I will be able to judge the difference better once I reach Kashmir,” Chauhan remarked.
The pilgrims were reportedly greeted by locals and district administrations along their route. Upon entering the Valley through the Navyug Tunnel in the Qazigund area of Kulgam, locals showered flower petals and welcomed the pilgrims with garlands, an act that was observed as the convoy proceeded further into the region.
Tahir Rihat (also known as Tahir Bilal) is an independent journalist, activist, and digital media professional from the Chenab Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India. He is best known for his work as the Online Editor at The Chenab Times.
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