How is the Amarnath Yatra proceeding smoothly with over 90,000 having ‘darshan’ in just five days?

Srinagar, July 8 (NationPress) The annual Amarnath Yatra has been progressing without any disturbances over the past five days, with the number of Yatris participating in the pilgrimage steadily increasing. On Tuesday, another group of 7,541 pilgrims set off for Kashmir.

To date, more than 90,000 individuals have completed the Yatra since its commencement on July 3.

Officials reported that this latest group of 7,541 Yatris departed from the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu in two secure convoys on Tuesday.

The first convoy, consisting of 148 vehicles carrying 3,321 Yatris, left at 2:55 a.m. for the Baltal base camp. The second convoy, containing 161 vehicles with 4,220 Yatris, departed at 4:03 a.m. for the Nunwan (Pahalgam) base camp,” officials noted.

In addition to those arriving in the Valley from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas, numerous pilgrims are directly reporting to the transit camps and both base camps for on-the-spot registration to join the Yatra, as stated by officials of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), which oversees the annual pilgrimage.

Authorities have made extensive preparations to ensure a multi-layered security presence for this year’s Amarnath Yatra, especially following the tragic attack on April 22, where Pakistan-backed terrorists killed 26 civilians after segregating them based on faith in the Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam.

An additional 180 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) have been deployed to reinforce the existing forces, including the Army, BSF, CRPF, SSB, and local police. All transit camps along the route to the two base camps and the entire path from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu to the holy cave shrine are secured by security personnel.

Local residents have shown unwavering support for this year’s Amarnath Yatra, as they have in previous years. To demonstrate that the people of Kashmir were deeply affected by the Pahalgam terror attack, locals greeted the first batch of Yatris with garlands and placards as they crossed the Navyug Tunnel into the Valley at Qazigund.

This year, the Yatra began on July 3 and will conclude after 38 days on August 9, coinciding with the Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan festivals.

Yatris make their way to the sacred cave shrine located at an altitude of 3,888 metres in the Kashmir Himalayas via either the traditional Pahalgam route or the shorter Baltal route.

Those taking the Pahalgam route pass through Chandanwari, Sheshnag, and Panchtarni to reach the holy cave, covering a distance of 46 km on foot. This trek typically takes four days for pilgrims. Conversely, those opting for the shorter Baltal route trek just 14 km to the cave shrine and return to the base camp the same day after performing the Yatra.

The cave shrine contains an ice stalagmite structure that waxes and wanes with the lunar phases. Devotees believe this ice stalagmite represents the mythical powers of Lord Shiva.

The Shri Amarnath ji Yatra is regarded as one of the most sacred religious journeys for Hindus, as legend has it that Lord Shiva revealed the secrets of eternal life and immortality to Mata Parvati within this cave. Interestingly, two pigeons accidentally found themselves in the cave during this divine narration. Traditionally, a pair of mountain pigeons is said to fly out of the cave shrine at the commencement of the annual Yatra.