SRINAGAR: Amidst resounding chants of “Har Har Mahadev” and “Bam Bam Bhole,” the annual Amarnath Yatra officially commenced at daybreak on Thursday as the first batch of 4,822 pilgrims set out from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu. The initial convoy, which includes saffron-clad sadhus and sadhvis, was formally flagged off by Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha from the high-security base camp located in the heart of the city. Sinha, who also chairs the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), set in motion the sacred pilgrimage to the Himalayan cave shrine, situated at an altitude of approximately 3,880 metres.
Prior to the flag-off ceremony, the Lieutenant Governor performed a special puja and extended his best wishes to the congregating devotees. He assured that the UT administration, along with the SASB, J&K Police, security forces, health authorities, sanitation teams, and local stakeholders, has established comprehensive institutional arrangements to ensure a safe, smooth, and hassle-free pilgrimage. Highlighting the spiritual significance on social media, the Lt. Governor posted on ‘X’: “Har Har Mahadev! The sacred journey to the holy abode of Baba Barfani begins! Flagged off the first batch of pilgrims for Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra 2026 from Jammu’s Bhagwati Nagar Base Camp. Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra is a profound spiritual awakening. Every step taken on this holy path is a testament to unwavering faith and surrender to Baba Amarnath. Wishing all devotees a safe, blissful and spiritually fulfilling journey. May Lord Shiva bless us all.”
The 57-day pilgrimage is scheduled to formally begin from the twin tracks on Friday, July 3, and will conclude on August 28, coinciding with the auspicious occasions of Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan. Pilgrims are proceeding through two distinct tracks: the traditional Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag district and the shorter but steeper Baltal route in Ganderbal district. The religious opening of the yatra was marked earlier with the performance of the Pratham Puja at the cave shrine on the auspicious occasion of Jyeshtha Purnima on Monday.
According to official statistics, 2,510 pilgrims in the first batch are travelling via the Pahalgam route, while 2,312 have opted for the Baltal route. The initial group comprises 3,707 men, 816 women, 16 children, 246 sadhus, and 37 sadhvis. The convoy itself included 259 vehicles—consisting of 106 buses, 39 medium motor vehicles, 111 light motor vehicles, and three two-wheelers—all moving under a multi-layered security cover. The Baltal-bound convoy left Bhagwati Nagar around 6:10 am, followed closely by the Pahalgam-bound convoy at about 6:35 am. Both convoys were heavily escorted by security personnel along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH44) and are expected to reach their respective base camps later in the day, ahead of the formal trekking window opening to the holy cave.
ലഘു വിവരണം
ജമ്മുവിലെ ഭഗവതി നഗർ ബേസ് ക്യാമ്പിൽ നിന്നും 4,822 തീർത്ഥാടകരുടെ ആദ്യ സംഘത്തെ ലെഫ്റ്റനന്റ് ഗവർണർ മനോജ് സിൻഹ ഫ്ലാഗ് ഓഫ് ചെയ്തതോടെ 2026-ലെ അമർനാഥ് യാത്രയ്ക്ക് ഔദ്യോഗികമായി തുടക്കമായി (ഫയലുകൾ image_5dd98f.png, image_5dd9e8.png കാണുക). ജൂലൈ 3 മുതൽ ഓഗസ്റ്റ് 28 വരെ നീണ്ടുനിൽക്കുന്ന ഈ 57 ദിവസത്തെ തീർത്ഥാടനത്തിൽ പഹൽഗാം, ബൽതാൽ എന്നീ രണ്ട് പാതകളിലൂടെയാണ് ഭക്തർ ഗുഹാക്ഷേത്രത്തിലേക്ക് നീങ്ങുന്നത്. കനത്ത സുരക്ഷാ ക്രമീകരണങ്ങളോടെ 259 വാഹനങ്ങളിലായാണ് ആദ്യ സംഘം യാത്ര തിരിച്ചിട്ടുള്ളത്.
(With inputs from Deccan Chronicle)
For more details: Navamalayalam.com