Amarnath Yatra begins amid tight security, devotees undeterred by terror threat
Amarnath Yatra
pilgrims crossed Qazigund-Banihal tunnel, marking the start of the annual Himalayan pilgrimage under unprecedented security.
Garlanded with flowers and greeted with traditional Kashmiri hospitality, the pilgrims — part of a 5,892-strong batch — were flagged off from the Jammu base camp at Bhagwati Nagar early morning by lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha. A convoy of 310 vehicles carried the devotees toward the sacred Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir.
'Undeterred by recent terrorist activities, devotees of Lord Shiva are arriving in huge numbers, demonstrating their immense faith,' said Sinha.
'I hope this year's yatra will be even more historic than previous years.'
The pilgrimage, running from July 3 to Aug 9, is taking place amid heightened security following the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam that killed 26, mostly tourists. A multi-layered security grid with advanced surveillance technology blankets the region. Pilgrims have been advised to travel only in designated convoys, with a separate govt advisory warning journalists against disguising themselves as yatris.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
O que é ar-condicionado sem dutos no Brasil?
Knowledge Knower
Undo
The twin routes to the shrine — Pahalgam (36-48km, 3–5 days) and Baltal (14km, 1–2 days) —remain under constant vigil. Authorities warned pilgrims not to arrive before scheduled dates and reiterated that misrepresentation of identity, especially by media, would result in strict action.
Among the first-day pilgrims: 1,043 women, 31 children, 16 trans people, 335 sadhus, and 72 sadhvis. Many will trek on foot or via ponies, palkis, or helicopters toward the 3,888m-high cave shrine that houses the naturally formed ice Shivling.
Rain fell. Conch shells blew. Hymns filled the air at Yatri Niwas in Jammu. The spiritual energy of Amarnath Yatra surged forward — undaunted, united, unshaken.
'No matter how many bombs are hurled, devotees will not be deterred,' said Sarvanand Patel from Gujarat. Ramesh Chander added: 'We pray that everybody gets darshan in peace. Army and security forces are here.'
Manoj Kumar from UP echoed the sentiment: 'There is no fear among us.
We have faith in our Baba Amarnath-ji and the forces.' Ram Prasad, another UP devotee, said terrorist threats will never shake their spiritual resolve.
J&K deputy CM Surinder Choudhary welcomed pilgrims at Banihal and raised the political pitch by expressing hope that 'the next Amarnath Yatra would take place in a full-fledged state'. He claimed LG Sinha performed a special puja praying for the restoration of statehood — though BJP did not immediately comment.
At Baltal base camp, BJP spokesperson and J&K Waqf Board chairperson Darakhshan Andrabi reviewed facilities and met officials and service providers. 'The yatra is a powerful symbol of communal harmony in Kashmir,' she said. 'It represents Hindu-Muslim unity, and we are all committed to strengthening that bond.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
16 minutes ago
- Time of India
Vehicular traffic on Puri stampede day was 4 times the volume of Rath Yatra's opening day
1 2 Bhubaneswar: A stampede that claimed lives of three devotees outside Gundicha Temple in Puri on June 29 coincided with an unprecedented surge in vehicular traffic, which reached four times the volume witnessed during the Rath Yatra's opening day on June 27, official records reveal. According to police, at least 25,000 vehicles arrived in the holy city on June 29, compared to roughly 6,000 vehicles on June 27. This massive influx created significant traffic snarls and other logistical challenges for the police. Additional director general (ADG) Dayal Gangwar, who oversees Rath Yatra traffic management, said, "Historically, Rath Yatra's first day typically attracts between 5,000 and 6,000 vehicles, while the Suna Besha ceremony usually draws 15,000-20,000 vehicles. However, this year festival's third-day turnout surpassed all previous records, primarily because it fell on a Sunday." The unprecedented vehicle surge severely strained existing infrastructure as parking facilities were designed to accommodate only 6,000 four-wheelers, based on previous years' requirements. "Upon noticing the extraordinary influx of vehicles and crowds, we immediately alerted Puri police, emphasizing the need for crowd management measures," Gangwar said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The New £23 per Month Private Medical Insurance That's Sweeping the UK Private Medical Plans Get Quote Undo "While extensive traffic congestion and funnelling exercise resulted in considerable waiting time for commuters, we managed to prevent any major law and order disruptions," he added. Ahead of the upcoming Bahuda Yatra on July 5 and Suna Besha on July 6, police have implemented comprehensive traffic management strategies, Gangwar said. "We have taken the support from the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack police commissionerate and Khurda district police. A real-time alert system has been established to facilitate immediate communication between these jurisdictions, enabling swift traffic diversion when necessary to prevent flow of vehicles to Puri. Bulk SMSes will also be sent to devotees about traffic arrangements," Gangwar said. According to DIG Kanwar Vishal Singh, "Traffic advisories for Bahuda and Suna Besha events have been issued. We have emphasized the importance of public compliance with the dynamic mobility plans, which are adjusted based on crowd density. We faced significant challenges during the first and third days of Rath Yatra, where unruly and uncooperative motorists refused to follow diversion instructions, resulting in extended traffic delays and inconvenience to others. "
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Post breakup from Chris Martin, Dakota Johnson embraces single life on sun-soaked girls trip with Kate Hudson
Just weeks after her quiet split from Coldplay frontman Chris Martin , actress Dakota Johnson has been spotted enjoying a rejuvenating European getaway with longtime friend Kate Hudson . The pair, both daughters of Hollywood royalty, were seen dining in Rome and later yachting off the coast of Ibiza, marking a stylish and spirited chapter in Johnson's post-breakup journey. Roman holiday with famous friends As reported by E! News, Johnson and Hudson were first seen on June 28 dining al fresco in Rome with entrepreneur Douglas Chabbott and Johnson's agent Maha Dakhil. The evening took a star-studded turn when Ricky Martin, dining nearby, stopped by to greet the group. Ibiza Escape: Sun, Sea, and Sisterhood Three days later, the duo was photographed cruising off the coast of Ibiza, Spain. According to People, the actresses lounged on a large white float, swam in the Mediterranean, and soaked up the sun in bikinis, Johnson in white and Hudson in yellow. Their carefree energy and close bond were on full display, offering a glimpse into their decades-long friendship. Their mothers, Melanie Griffith and Goldie Hawn, have been close friends since the 80s, and the two actresses essentially grew up together. A quiet end to a long love story The girls trip comes on the heels of Johnson's breakup with Chris Martin, which was confirmed in early June after nearly eight years of dating. Though the couple had recently been seen on a yoga date, insiders told People the split had been 'a long time coming.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo Neither Johnson nor Martin has publicly commented, consistent with their famously private relationship. 'We work so much… It's nice to be cosy and private' In a 2021 interview with Elle, Johnson explained their low-key dynamic, saying, 'We've been together for quite a while, and we go out sometimes. But we both work so much that it's nice to be at home and be cozy and private.' What's next for Dakota? While the breakup may have surprised fans, Johnson appears to be embracing her independence with grace. Sources close to her say she's focused on her creative projects and living life 'intentionally.' With The Materialists gaining buzz and her Ibiza glow making headlines, Dakota Johnson seems to be turning the page with style, strength, and sunshine.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
2nd batch of 5,246 Amarnath pilgrims starts from Jammu base camp
JAMMU: The second batch of 5,246 pilgrims left for the holy cave shrine of Amarnath from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas base camp in Jammu under unprecedented security cover Thursday morning. Jammu and Kashmir LG Manoj Sinha flagged off the first batch of 5,485 pilgrims on Wednesday. Authorities have set up 34 accommodation centres across Jammu for the distribution of RFID tags to pilgrims, while 12 counters have been set up for the on-the-spot registration of yatris. Over 3.5 lakh people have registered themselves online for the pilgrimage so far.
