Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Administration on Friday distributed pamphlets carrying a special message from Prime Minister Narendra Modi among pilgrims of the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra at the Nunwan and Baltal base camps.
In his message, the Prime Minister extended greetings and best wishes to the devotees, describing the pilgrimage as an enduring symbol of India’s spiritual heritage, cultural unity and selfless service.
Modi said undertaking the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra is a matter of great fortune and noted that the annual pilgrimage, which begins with the first worship on Guru Purnima, draws devotees from across the country to seek the blessings of Baba Barfani.
He said the Yatra has evolved into a living expression of India’s unity in diversity, bringing together people from different regions, languages and traditions, while reflecting the enduring strength of Sanatan culture.
The Prime Minister commended the efforts of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, the Jammu and Kashmir Administration, the Army, Central Armed Police Forces, J&K Police, disaster response agencies, healthcare workers and other personnel for ensuring the safe and smooth conduct of the pilgrimage.
He also appreciated the hospitality extended by the people of Jammu and Kashmir and the voluntary service rendered by local residents and organisations through langars and service camps.
In his message, Modi urged pilgrims to observe five pledges during the Yatra: maintain cleanliness, follow all safety advisories, support local livelihoods by purchasing locally made products, promote environmental conservation through the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign, and uphold the spirit of nation-building by contributing towards the vision of a Viksit Bharat.
Expressing confidence that this year’s pilgrimage would strengthen faith, national unity and the spirit of service, the Prime Minister wished all devotees a safe, peaceful and spiritually enriching journey.
According to the administration, pilgrims welcomed the Prime Minister’s message and described it as a thoughtful gesture that further strengthened their spiritual resolve for the pilgrimage.
Meanwhile, more than 12,000 pilgrims had darshan of the naturally formed ice ‘Shivling’ at the Amarnath cave shrine on the opening day of the 57-day annual pilgrimage on Friday, officials said.
The Amarnath Yatra began early morning, simultaneously via the traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route in the Anantnag district and the shorter but steeper 14-km Baltal route in the Ganderbal district.
Around 12,100 pilgrims paid obeisance at the 3,800-metre-high cave shrine in the south Kashmir Himalayas. The pilgrims included about 9,350 men, 2,250 women, over 200 children, 70 sadhus, nine transgender devotees, and more than 260 security personnel, officials said.
The batches of pilgrims, including men, women and seers, left from the Nunwan base camp in Pahalgam, in south Kashmir’s Anantnag, and Baltal base camp in Sonamarg area of central Kashmir’s Ganderbal, at the first light of the day, they said.
The yatra will conclude on August 28.
Earlier, the annual Amarnath Yatra to the south Kashmir Himalayas began on Friday with the first batch of pilgrims setting off for the holy cave shrine amidst chants of religious hymns following authorities announcing a cap on the number of devotees paying obeisance each day.
Vice President C P Radhakrishnan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other dignitaries greeted devotees on the commencement of the 57-day Amarnath Yatra.
The first batch of pilgrims left the twin base camps in Baltal and Nunwan to start their journey to the 3,880-metre-high cave shrine in the south Kashmir Himalayas that houses a naturally formed ice ‘lingam’, officials said.
The yatra started early morning from the twin tracks — the traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route and the 14-km Baltal route — as it rained intermittently, the officials said.
The batches of pilgrims, including men, women and seers, left from the Nunwan base camp in Pahalgam, in south Kashmir’s Anantnag, and Baltal base camp in Sonamarg area of central Kashmir’s Ganderbal, at the first light of the day, they said.
The chants of “Bum bum Bhole” filled the air as the batch was flagged off by the respective deputy commissioners and SSPs from the base camps, they added.
Stringent security arrangements have been put in place for the smooth conduct of the yatra.
Thousands of security personnel from the police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and other paramilitary forces have been deployed to ensure security. Aerial surveillance will also be carried out, the officials said.
The administration has said that no pilgrim would be permitted to undertake the Amarnath Yatra before the registered date, appealing to the devotees to wait for their turn and travel only on the date assigned to them.
In an advisory, it said that as directed by the Supreme Court, the maximum number of pilgrims permitted daily on the pilgrimage route has been fixed.
“Compliance with this daily ceiling limit is mandatory for the safety of pilgrims and for the smooth conduct of the yatra,” it said.
All pilgrims have been requested to reach Jammu and Kashmir only after completing their advance registration, it added.
“No pilgrim will be permitted to travel before their registered date.
Please travel only on your registered date. Pilgrims who have arrived in Jammu and Kashmir without registration are again requested to wait for their turn,” it added.
Second batch of over 3800 pilgrims leave Jammu for twin base camps in Kashmir
Amid tight security, the second batch of more than 3,800 pilgrims left the Jammu base camp on Friday for the Amarnath cave shrine in the south Kashmir Himalayas, officials said.
The 57-day pilgrimage to the 3,880-metre-high Amarnath cave shrine started on Friday morning simultaneously via the traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route in the Anantnag district and the shorter but steeper 14-km Baltal route in the Ganderbal district. The yatra will conclude on August 28.
As many as 3,865 pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in a cavalcade of 201 vehicles escorted by security personnel and the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), they said.
Of the total pilgrims, 1,735 were headed for the Baltal base camp in 115 vehicles, while 2,130 pilgrims in 86 vehicles were proceeding to the traditional Pahalgam base camp in the Anantnag district.
The atmosphere at the Bhagwati Nagar base camp was charged with devotion as pilgrims chanted “Bam Bam Bhole”, “Har Har Mahadev” and “Jai Barfani Baba Ki” before embarking on their journey. Many expressed satisfaction over the arrangements made for the smooth and peaceful conduct of the pilgrimage.
On Thursday, the first batch of 4,822 pilgrims was flagged off from Bhagwati Nagar by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.
With the fresh departure, a total of 8,687 pilgrims have left the Jammu base camp for the valley since Thursday.
Authorities have put in place multi-layered security arrangements along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and at all transit camps to ensure the safe and smooth movement of the yatra convoys. A multi-tier security setup has been activated in and around the Bhagwati Nagar base camp for the annual pilgrimage.(PTI)
