Amarnath Yatra: First Batch of Pilgrims Heads Out from Bhagwati Nagar Base Camp in Jammu

JAMMU: The first batch of pilgrims for the annual Amarnath Yatra was flagged off on Friday morning by Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu amidst a multi-tier security setup that is unprecedented.

The first lot of pilgrims is headed for the twin base camps at Pahalgam and Baltal, in order to venture for a pilgrimage to the shrine of Lord Shiva in a cave located at a height of 3,888 metres in the south Kashmir Himalayas. The shrine cave houses an ice stalagmite structure known as the holy ‘Lingam’ symbolizing the mythical powers of Lord Shiva, according to the devotees. The structure of the ice stalagmite is said to wane and wax with the phases of the moon.

The 62-day annual pilgrimage is slated to start from Kashmir on July 1 through the two routes, including the historical 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam track in Anantnag district and the shorter but steeper 14-km Baltal route in the Ganderbal district, which is an arduous one.

More than 3,500 pilgrims have already arrived in Jammu for their onward journey for the pilgrimage to Amarnath.

Speaking about the Yatra’s flagging-off by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha from Jammu, an official informed that the Amarnath Yatra will begin with the first batch of pilgrims being flagged off from Jammu base camp on Friday. He said that the Yatra is scheduled to formally start from the twin base camps of Baltal and Pahalgam on Saturday and will end on August 31, coinciding with the Shravan Purnima festival.

The first batch of pilgrims, comprising around 3,300 devouts, left the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in 159 vehicles escorted by CRPF troops for the Baltal and Pahalgam base camps in the Kashmir Valley

A multi-level security arrangement has been set up in and around the Bhagwati Nagar base camp and the convoy carrying pilgrims left Jammu for Kashmir. The convoy was fully guarded by CRPF troops with area domination being conducted by Army and police troops.

LG Manoj Sinha visited the Yatri Niwas base camp in Jammu on Thursday night to review arrangements for the pilgrims, an official spokesperson said.

An on-the-spot registration camp for unregistered pilgrims has been set up in the Shalimar area of the city. Also, a special camp has been set up at the Purani Mandi-based Ram temple complex for the registration of ‘sadhus,’ an official informed.

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