First batch of Pilgrims Sets Off for 52-Day Amarnath Yatra 2024
First batch of Pilgrims Sets Off for 52-Day Amarnath Yatra 2024
The 52-day journey to the Amarnath shrine started today with 4,603 pilgrims departing from the Baltal base camp, concluding on August 19.
The first group of pilgrims set off for the holy cave as the Amarnath Yatra 2024 commences today pic.twitter.com/GzPiIYe3SM
— Radio Raabta 90.8 (@RadioRaabta908) June 29, 2024
June 29, 2024
The annual Amarnath pilgrimage commenced today as the first group of pilgrims left the Baltal base camp in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ganderbal district to visit the sacred cave.
The departure was marked by the blowing of conch shells and chants of “Bum Bum Bhole,” “Jai Baba Burfani,” and “Har Har Mahadev.” 4,603 pilgrims set off for the yearly yatra to the shrine situated at 12,756 feet above sea level.
This year, the 52-day pilgrimage will conclude on August 19. Registrations for the yatra began online on April 15 through the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board’s (SASB) website.
Extensive arrangements, including three-tier security, area dominations, thorough route deployment, and checkpoints are established to ensure a seamless journey.
Reports indicate that over 3.50 lakh people have registered for this year’s yatra. Additionally, 125 community kitchens (langars) have been arranged along the routes to the cave shrine, supported by over 6,000 volunteers.
#ShriAmarnathJiYatra2024
— Divisional Commissioner Kashmir (@DivComKash) June 29, 2024
Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha flagged off the first batch of pilgrims embarking on the Amarnath Yatra from Jammu, beginning their pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine. Amidst the chanting of religious hymns. pic.twitter.com/wcxSpQqHHB
The Amarnath Yatra occurs every year with strict security measures and vigilance, following two main routes:
1. The traditional 48-km-long Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag district.
2. The shorter, yet steeper, 14-km-long Baltal route in Ganderbal district.
The pilgrimage attracts hundreds of thousands of devotees who participate during the ‘Shravani Mela’ in July-August (Shravan month in the Hindu calendar), the only time the Amarnath Cave is accessible due to its challenging geographical location.
Situated 141 km from Srinagar at an altitude of 12,756 feet, the holy Amarnath cave is nestled in the Ladar Valley, surrounded by glaciers and snow-covered mountains for most of the year.
Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha flagged off the first group of pilgrims from Jammu, marking the start of their sacred journey to the cave shrine amidst the chanting of religious hymns.
