Amarnath Yatra begins, 2,750 pilgrims leaves Nunwan base camp for cave shrine


PTI, Jun 30, 2022, 9:51 AM IST

AFP photo

The annual Amarnath Yatra began on Thursday as a batch of about 2,750 pilgrims left the base camp here for the cave shrine housing the naturally formed ice-lingam in the south Kashmir Himalayas.

The pilgrimage was flagged off by Deputy Commissioner Piyush Singla at the Nunwan base camp in the Anantnag district’s Pahalgam.

The journey — most of it on foot — takes about three days with night halts at Sheeshnag and Panchtarni along the route.

All arrangements have been made to ensure smooth conduct of the 43-day pilgrimage, Singla said, adding, “The endeavour is to make sure that the pilgrims feel secure and visit the shrine peacefully.”

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday flagged off the first batch of 4,890 pilgrims from the Jammu base camp.

Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) has also made a provision for online ‘darshan’ of the naturally formed ice lingam, officials said.

They said this year, the pilgrimage is expected to see higher-than-usual attendance as it is being held after a gap of three years.

In 2019, the Yatra was cancelled midway ahead of the Centre abrogating Article 370 provisions of the Constitution. The pilgrimage did not take place in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

A senior army officer recently said the threat perception to the pilgrimage was more this year.

A large number of security personnel have been deployed for the pilgrimage. Security along the Baltal and Pahalgam routes has been beefed up. New security pickets have been set up to ensure that subversive elements do not succeed in disrupting the pilgrimage, officials said.

Besides, drone surveillance and RFID chips are also a part of the three-tier security arrangements for pilgrims.

To ensure only bona fide people attend the yatra, the SASB has asked all intending pilgrims to carry Aadhaar cards or any other biometric verified document with them.

Security personnel have been posted on the peaks leading to the holy cave shrine, the officials said, adding round-the-clock vigil is being maintained along the routes.

The pilgrimage will culminate on August 11, coinciding with Raksha Bandhan.

Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.

Top News

‘King and The Prince’: Tons by young Jaiswal, veteran Kohli put India in winning position

Malayalam actress changes her stance, to proceed with sexual harassment cases against actors

Parliamentary panel to examine issue of lateral entry

Fresh plea in SC seeks probe into US indictment of Gautam Adani

Jasprit Bumrah, Virat Kohli my favourite cricketers: Ex-CJI D Y Chandrachud

Veg diet, alcohol abstinence, behaviour training: UP cops prep for ‘pleasant’ Maha Kumbh

Senior BJP leaders meet Fadnavis after Mahayuti’s landslide win

Related Articles More

Malayalam actress changes her stance, to proceed with sexual harassment cases against actors

People taught befitting lesson to those talking about breaking country: Kangana on Maharashtra polls

Parliamentary panel to examine issue of lateral entry

Fresh plea in SC seeks probe into US indictment of Gautam Adani

Sambhal violence orchestrated by BJP, govt to divert attention from poll rigging: Akhilesh

MUST WATCH

Prakash Belawadi

Naxal Leader Vikram Gowda

Christmas Cake Fruit Mixing

DK Shivakumar

Rose Cultivation


Latest Additions

‘King and The Prince’: Tons by young Jaiswal, veteran Kohli put India in winning position

Malayalam actress changes her stance, to proceed with sexual harassment cases against actors

Choose correct ITR to report foreign assets; 2 lakh such returns filed: CBDT official

People taught befitting lesson to those talking about breaking country: Kangana on Maharashtra polls

Parliamentary panel to examine issue of lateral entry

Thanks for visiting Udayavani

You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.