SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday felicitated officers and personnel associated with the Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board (SASB), civil administration, Army, CAPFs, J&K Police, Border Roads Organisation (BRO), medical services and other agencies for the successful conduct of the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra-2026.
Addressing a gathering in Srinagar, Sinha said the successful pilgrimage was a result of the collective efforts of various departments, agencies, service providers and civil society, describing it as a manifestation of “Team Jammu Kashmir”.
The 57-day pilgrimage, held from July 3 to August 28, witnessed the participation of around 4.80 lakh devotees who had darshan of Baba Barfani. The administration faced challenging weather conditions for more than 10 days during the pilgrimage.
According to the administration, 82 percent of pilgrims completed darshan during the first 20 days, while 95 percent completed it within the first month.
Around 54,000 service providers were registered for the pilgrimage, including 31,000 pony operators, pithu bearers and palanquin carriers, 6,400 tent and shop operators and 7,700 langar volunteers. Around 1.87 lakh pilgrims availed pony and palanquin services during the Yatra.
The administration had established 93 medical facilities along the pilgrimage route, equipped with 595 clinical beds and 26 oxygen booths. Around 1,430 doctors and nursing personnel remained deployed round-the-clock, supported by 48 ambulances.
Sanitation arrangements were also significantly expanded, with 7,900 toilets installed and maintained by an equal number of sanitation workers under the zero-waste Yatra initiative.
The holding capacity in the Yatra area was increased to 63,000, while arrangements across the Jammu and Kashmir divisions could accommodate 54,000 pilgrims. Aadhaar-based registration was used to prevent duplicate registrations.
Real-time monitoring of the pilgrimage was carried out through twice-daily coordination meetings held at 3 am and 8 pm under the leadership of Dr Mandeep K Bhandari, CEO of Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board and Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor. The meetings involved nodal officers, police authorities, divisional commissioners and camp officers.
Sinha expressed gratitude to sanitation workers, pony operators, pithu bearers, palanquin carriers, langar volunteers, medical professionals and officials for ensuring a smooth and dignified pilgrimage despite difficult terrain and adverse weather.
He said the success of the Yatra was not attributable to any single institution or department but was the outcome of coordinated efforts by all stakeholders.
The Lieutenant Governor said the Amarnath pilgrimage reflects India’s Sanatan tradition and its ethos of humanity, coexistence and collective service. He said pilgrims returning from the Yatra carried with them not only a spiritual experience but also the message of Jammu Kashmir’s culture and hospitality.
Sinha also thanked civil society groups, political parties and religious leaders for extending support to the pilgrimage and said the discipline, energy and coordination demonstrated during the Yatra should become an enduring part of Jammu Kashmir’s development ethos.
He said the successful conduct of the pilgrimage had demonstrated that sustained effort, clear leadership, robust arrangements and a spirit of service could overcome even difficult challenges.
“I am confident that every citizen of Jammu Kashmir fulfilled their moral responsibility towards this yatra, directly or indirectly, and elevated the rich cultural tradition of UT before the entire country,” he said.
