June 29, 2024, South Kashmir Himalayas — More than 13,000 pilgrims embarked on the annual pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine of Amarnath on Saturday, marking the first day of the Yatra. The pilgrimage, conducted amid stringent security measures, saw the first batch of pilgrims depart from the twin base camps in Baltal and Nunwan.
Located at an altitude of 3,880 meters, the sacred cave shrine witnessed 13,736 devotees on its inaugural day, including 3,300 females, 52 children, 102 sadhus, and 682 security personnel.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his heartfelt wishes to the pilgrims, emphasizing the spiritual significance of the Yatra. “My heartfelt best wishes to all pilgrims on the commencement of the holy Amarnath Yatra. This Yatra associated with the darshan of Baba Barfani infuses immense energy in the devotees of Lord Shiva. May all devotees prosper with his blessings. Jai Baba Barfani,” the Prime Minister posted on X in Hindi.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring a safe and smooth pilgrimage. “Shri Amarnath Yatra is an eternal symbol of the traditionalism and continuity of Indian culture. This divine Yatra is starting today. I wish all the devotees good luck for the darshan. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji, our government is committed to the safe, smooth, and pleasant journey of the devotees and the government has made every possible arrangement to ensure that the devotees do not face any inconvenience. Har Har Mahadev,” Shah wrote on ‘X’ in Hindi.
The Yatra commenced early morning from two routes: the traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam track in Anantnag and the 14-km shorter but steeper Baltal path in Ganderbal. Lt Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off the first batch of 4,603 pilgrims from the Yatri Niwas base camp in Bhagwati Nagar, Jammu, on Friday.
Stringent security measures have been implemented to ensure the smooth conduct of the Yatra. Thousands of personnel from the police, Central Reserve Police Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, and other paramilitary forces are deployed along the routes, supplemented by aerial surveillance.
The 52-day pilgrimage will conclude on August 19. Last year, more than 4.5 lakh pilgrims visited the cave shrine.
In support of the pilgrimage, the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has established two 100-bed hospitals at the twin Amarnath base camps in Kashmir. These facilities will continue to operate even after the Yatra concludes, providing medical support to the region.
The annual Amarnath Yatra is not only a spiritual journey but also a testament to the enduring cultural and religious traditions of India, bringing together thousands of devotees in a shared expression of faith.
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