Amarnath Yatra 2024 Commences: First Group of Pilgrims Depart for Sacred Cave

The annual Amarnath Yatra kicked off today, June 29th, 2024, with the first batch of over 4,600 pilgrims setting off from the Baltal base camp in Jammu and Kashmir's Ganderbal district, for the darshan of the holy cave. 

(Photo credit: Screengrab/ANI) Amarnath Yatra 2024 Commences: First Group of Pilgrims Depart for Sacred Cave

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A Journey Marked by Chants and Cheers

The atmosphere was vibrant with chants of "Bum Bum Bhole," "Jai Baba Burfani," and "Har Har Mahadev" as the pilgrims embarked on their journey. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off the yatra convoy of 231 vehicles from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu on Thursday. The pilgrims were welcomed warmly upon arrival in the valley on Friday evening, greeted with garlands and cheers in Kulgam, Anantnag, Srinagar, and Bandipora districts.

#WATCH | J&K: First batch of pilgrims leave from Baltal, for the 'darshan' of Holy Amarnath cave pic.twitter.com/T5cZArNCwy

— ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2024

A 52-Day Spiritual Expedition

This year's Amarnath Yatra will be a 52-day-long pilgrimage, culminating on August 19th. It's been reported that over 350,000 people have signed up for this year's yatra! The pilgrims will undertake a challenging trek to the holy cave, situated at a staggering altitude of 12,756 feet. 

#WATCH | J&K: A large number of pilgrims en route from Baltal to Holy Amarnath cave. pic.twitter.com/u9hdwn7c95

— ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2024

What are the key safety measures in place for the Amarnath Yatra 2024

The key safety measures in place for the Amarnath Yatra 2024 include:

1) Comprehensive security arrangements with a three-tier security system, area domination, route deployment, and checkpoints.

2) Deployment of hundreds of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) along the nearly 300 km long Jammu-Srinagar national highway and the routes to the base camps.

3) Additional CAPF teams stationed along the Srinagar-Baltal and Qazigund-Pahalgam routes.

4) Aerial surveillance of the Yatra area and deployment of spotters to monitor for any suspicious activities.

5) CCTV surveillance of the national highway from Qazigund to Pahalgam and Baltal base camps to monitor the movement of yatra-related vehicles.

6) Issuance of RFID cards to all pilgrims for real-time location tracking.

7) Provision of a Rs 5 lakh insurance cover for added security.

The administration has also made extensive arrangements for the convenience and safety of the pilgrims, including medical facilities, upgraded tracks, reliable power and water supplies, and enhanced mobile connectivity along the routes.

Over 125 community kitchens set up for amarnath yatra

Over 125 community kitchens (langars) have been set up along the two routes to the Amarnath cave shrine to feed the pilgrims during the 52-day Yatra.

These community kitchens are supported by over 6,000 volunteers who will be providing food and refreshments to the over 3.5 lakh registered pilgrims throughout their journey. 

The langars offer a variety of vegetarian dishes, snacks, and beverages to cater to the diverse dietary needs of the pilgrims. They play a crucial role in ensuring the pilgrims are well-fed and nourished as they undertake the arduous trek to the holy cave shrine located at an altitude of 3,880 meters.

The establishment of these extensive catering facilities is part of the comprehensive arrangements made by the authorities to ensure a smooth and comfortable Amarnath Yatra experience for the devotees. 

Amarnath Yatra 

The 52-day-long Amarnath Yatra starts on June 29 and ends on August 19, aligning with the festivals of Raksha Bandhan and Shravan Purnima.

Every year, lakhs of pilgrims participate in the Amarnath Yatra during the Shravani Mela in July-August (Shravan month in the Hindu calendar), the only time the Amarnath Cave is accessible due to its geographical conditions.

During the yatra, pilgrims can choose between the 48-km traditional Pahalgam-Cave Shrine route or the shorter 14-km Baltal-Cave Shrine route. Pilgrims who take the Pahalgam route usually reach the cave shrine in four days, while those on the Baltal route often make it back the same day after having 'darshan' inside the cave. The cave shrine, located 12,756 feet above sea level, contains an ice stalagmite that changes with the moon phases. Devotees believe this ice stalagmite represents the mythical powers of Lord Shiva.