The annual Amarnath Yatra, which began on July 2, has attracted a remarkable response, with the number of pilgrims surpassing 1 lakh within five days. Pilgrims are journeying towards the 3,880-meter-high cave shrine in the Southern Himalayas to offer their prayers.
Official data confirms that by Tuesday afternoon, over 1 lakh pilgrims had visited the holy cave shrine through the Baltal and Chandanwari routes. The latest group of pilgrims, totaling 8,815 individuals, departed from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp for the pilgrimage, which includes 31 foreign nationals.
The sixth batch of pilgrims consisted of 5,831 men, 2,193 women, 31 children, 598 sadhus, 131 sadhvis, and 31 foreign nationals. Authorities report that more than 90,000 pilgrims have already completed their darshan at the holy cave during the first four days of the pilgrimage. The convoy on Tuesday marked the largest group since the Yatra commenced.
At the base camps and halting stations, a significant influx of pilgrims has been observed, with daily arrivals from various parts of the country. Chants like “Bam Bam Bhole,” “Har Har Mahadev,” and “Jai Barfani Baba Ki” resonate through the mountains as devotees gather at the Bhagwati Nagar base camp.
Extensive security measures have been implemented from Pahalgam to the Baltal base camp and up to the holy cave to ensure the safety of pilgrims. A comprehensive four-tier security system involving the Army, ITBP, CRPF, and J&K police personnel is in place. The 57-day pilgrimage is set to conclude on August 28, coinciding with Raksha Bandhan.
