SRINAGAR: The annual Amarnath Yatra commenced on Thursday with the first batch of pilgrims embarking on the sacred journey to the 3,880-metre-high cave shrine located in the Himalayan range.
According to officials, pilgrims, including men, women, and sadhus, departed at daybreak from the two traditional base camps of Nunwan in Pahalgam, and Baltal in the Sonamarg area of central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.
Tight security and logistical arrangements have been put in place to ensure the safety and smooth conduct of the yatra.
“During the recent Pahalgam tragedy, my family insisted that I should not go for yatra, however, after reaching the base camp here it seems very normal like other states”, says Sourabh Singh, a pilgrim form Bihar.
On Wednesday the first batch of around 5000 Yatris was flagged off from the base camp in Bhagwati Nagar in Jammu by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. The pilgrims reached the Kashmir Valley in the afternoon and in the wee hours of Thursday, the journey towards sacred shrine began.
Surinder Bittu Garg, owner of Haryana based Langar said, “We are ready to serve pilgrims wholeheartedly and this year we have been directed to install refrigerators, freezers and use uniforms to maintain hygiene.
A Ganderbal based shopkeeper who annually sets his shop at Baltal base said, “As compared to previous years, the sale is very low. Only local people are buying products from my shop. Since hours, I did not witness any pilgrim to even come close to my shop”.
The Amarnath Yatra is one of the most challenging pilgrimages in India due to its high-altitude location and difficult terrain. However, roads leading to Shrine have been widened and necessary fencing have been done on several locations to keep the track safe.
