As the 36-day pilgrimage gets underway on Thursday, Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday officially launched the first group of Yatris for this year’s Amarnath Yatra from Jammu for the Valley.
Exuberant Yatris from all over the nation departed in two escorted convoys from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas on Canal Road in Jammu for the two Yatra base camps of Pahalgam in Anantnag district and Baltal in Ganderbal district, accompanied by the slogans “Bharat Mata Ki Jai,” “Bum Bum Bhole,” and “Barfani Baba Ne Bulaya Hai.”
When the Lieutenant Governor kicked off the first group of this year’s Yatra for the Valley, he was joined by senior civil and police personnel.
The Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), which oversees the Yatra’s operations, is chaired by Manoj Sinha.
“A total of 5,892 Yatris left in two escorted convoys for the Shri Amarnath ji Yatra from here today,” official officials told IANS. Of these, 2,489 are heading to Baltal base camp, and 3403 are heading to Nunwan (Pahalgam) base camp.
Since the Pahalgam terror assault on April 22, in which Pakistan-backed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists killed 26 civilians, this year’s Amarnath Yatra is being held with unprecedented security.
To supplement the current security setup, which consists of the Army, security personnel, and J&K Police, 180 more CAPF companies have been sent.
The Yatra will formally begin on Thursday and end on August 9, which falls on the festivals of Raksha Bandhan and Shravan Purnima, after 36 days.
The holy cave sanctuary, which is 3888 meters above sea level, is reached by devotees either the shorter Baltal path or the more conventional Pahalgam route.
Those who choose the Pahalgam path travel 46 kilometers in four days from Pahalgam to Chandanwati, Sheshnag, and Panchtarni in order to visit the sacred cave shrine.
Those who take the 14-kilometer Baltal trail return to the base camp the same day after receiving “darshan” within the cave temple.
An ice stalagmite structure inside the cave shrine waxes and wanes in accordance with the moon’s phases. The ice stalagmite structure, according to devotees, represents Lord Shiva’s legendary abilities.
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