SRINAGAR, July 5: Another group of Amarnath Yatra pilgrims departed from the Pantha Chowk Yatra base camp in Srinagar under heightened security measures. The pilgrims, singing devotional songs and hymns, are heading along the Baltal and Pahalgam routes to begin their journey to the 3,880-meter-high cave shrine in south Kashmir. This year’s Yatra takes place amidst recent terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.
The annual pilgrimage is conducted by the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board. At the Srinagar Base Camp, a pilgrim named Jagveer expressed gratitude to the local administration for providing necessary facilities. “I am heading to Pahalgam. We have been provided with good facilities upon reaching here. The Langar (communal meal) facility is also good. I pray for the smooth conduct of the yatra. Lots of gratitude to the Army soldiers,” he said.
Another pilgrim, Nikhil from Indore, shared his experience, saying, “I am going to pay obeisance. I have come here for the first time. The food and accommodation facilities here are up to the mark. Security has been deployed to ensure the smooth conduct of the Yatra. I will pray for something good.”
This year’s Yatra started on June 29 and will conclude on August 19, spanning 52 days. Devotees of Lord Shiva undertake the arduous annual pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine located in the Kashmir Himalayas in July-August.
Amidst heightened security concerns and the challenging terrain of the route, the administration is ensuring the safety and well-being of the pilgrims.
