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Amarnath Yatra 2024 Commences: First Batch of Pilgrims Sets Off for Holy Cave

The annual journey to the Amarnath shrine began on Saturday as the first group of pilgrims departed from the Baltal base camp in Ganderbal district, Jammu and Kashmir, for the darshan at the sacred cave. Accompanied by the sounds of conch shells and chants like “Bum Bum Bhole,” “Jai Baba Burfani,” and “Har Har Mahadev,” […]

The annual journey to the Amarnath shrine began on Saturday as the first group of pilgrims departed from the Baltal base camp in Ganderbal district, Jammu and Kashmir, for the darshan at the sacred cave.

Accompanied by the sounds of conch shells and chants like “Bum Bum Bhole,” “Jai Baba Burfani,” and “Har Har Mahadev,” the initial batch set off for the holy site situated at an elevation of 12,756 feet above sea level.

Consisting of 4,603 pilgrims, the first group arrived in the Kashmir valley on Friday under strict security measures. This year’s pilgrimage spans 52 days, concluding on August 19. Registration for the yatra began online on April 15 through the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board’s (SASB) website.

Extensive preparations, including three-tier security, area dominance, deployment along the routes, and checkpoints, have been implemented to ensure a smooth yatra. Over 3.50 lakh people have reportedly registered for this year’s pilgrimage. Additionally, 125 community kitchens (langars), supported by more than 6,000 volunteers, have been established along both the traditional 48-km-long Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag district and the shorter but steeper 14-km-long Baltal route in Ganderbal district.

The Amarnath Yatra, an annual event conducted amidst heightened security and vigilance, proceeds along two main tracks. These include the longer Nunwan-Pahalgam route and the shorter Baltal route, both of which lead pilgrims to the sacred Amarnath Cave. The pilgrimage coincides with the ‘Shravani Mela’ in July-August, the designated period in the Hindu calendar when the Amarnath Cave becomes accessible due to favorable weather conditions. Situated 141 km from Srinagar, the holy cave is nestled at a high altitude amidst the Ladar Valley, surrounded by glaciers and snow-capped mountains for most of the year. A large number of pilgrims leave from Nunwan base camp in Pahalgam for Holy Amarnath cave.

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