The Amarnath Yatra, one of Hinduism's most sacred pilgrimages, has seen over 1.45 lakh devotees visit the holy cave shrine in the Kashmir Himalayas in just eight days since its commencement on July 3, 2025.
On Friday, an additional 6,482 pilgrims departed from Jammu’s Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in two escorted convoys, heading toward the cave shrine perched at 3,888 meters above sea level. The first convoy, comprising 107 vehicles and carrying 2,353 pilgrims, left for the Baltal base camp at 3:20 a.m. The second convoy, with 161 vehicles and 4,129 pilgrims, set out for the Nunwan (Pahalgam) base camp at 4:04 a.m., officials reported. Many other devotees are also arriving directly at the Baltal and Nunwan base camps for on-the-spot registration to join the Yatra.
On Thursday, the ceremonial Bhumi Pujan for the Chhari Mubarak, the holy mace of Lord Shiva, was performed at Pahalgam. Led by Mahant Swami Deependra Giri, the sole custodian of the Chhari Mubarak, a group of sadhus carried the sacred mace from its base at the Dashnami Akhara Building in Srinagar to Pahalgam. The rituals included a puja at the Gauri Shankar Temple and a ceremonial dip in the holy spring at the Martand Sun Temple. The Chhari Mubarak will reach the Amarnath cave shrine on August 9, marking the official conclusion of the 38-day pilgrimage, which coincides with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan.
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The Amarnath Yatra holds profound spiritual significance for Hindu devotees, who believe the ice stalagmite inside the cave, which waxes and wanes with the lunar phases, embodies the divine powers of Lord Shiva. According to legend, it was in this cave that Lord Shiva revealed the secrets of eternal life to Goddess Parvati.
Pilgrims can access the shrine via two routes: the traditional 46-km Pahalgam route, which involves a four-day trek through Chandanwari, Sheshnag, and Panchtarni, or the shorter 14-km Baltal route, allowing devotees to complete the journey and return on the same day. This year’s Yatra is under heightened security following the tragic April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam’s Baisaran meadow, where 26 civilians were killed by Pakistan-backed terrorists.
To ensure safety, authorities have deployed an additional 180 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) to bolster the existing security framework, which includes the army, BSF, CRPF, SSB, and local police. The entire route from Jammu to the cave shrine, along with transit camps at Baltal and Nunwan, is heavily guarded. Notably, helicopter services for pilgrims have been suspended this year due to security concerns.
The Amarnath Yatra continues to draw thousands of devotees, with robust arrangements in place to ensure a safe and spiritually fulfilling journey to the sacred shrine.
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