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India Gazette
2 hours ago
- India Gazette
Excellent arrangements, say devotees as they begin Amarnath Yatra with chants of
Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], July 3 (ANI): A fresh batch of pilgrims set off on Thursday morning for the holy cave of Shri Amarnath Baba, chanting 'Har Har Mahadev' and 'Bam Bam Bhole' as they began their journey. One pilgrim at the Baltal base camp, who is visiting the Amarnath shrine for the 14th time, praised the arrangements. 'I am from Sangrur, Punjab. This is the 14th time I have come for the Amarnath Yatra. There is no need to rush. The arrangements made by the government are excellent,' he told ANI. A pilgrim from Bengal, who was part of the first group departing from the Pahalgam base camp, also expressed satisfaction. 'We are very happy. We have no fear. Our government is very good... Our Army is also very good. We have no reason to be afraid,' he said. Another devotee from the same batch added, 'The facilities are very good... Everything belongs to Bhole Baba. We possess nothing... The arrangements are excellent.' Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Vijay Kumar Bidhuri said the enthusiasm among devotees for the 38-day yatra is unmatched. 'This Yatra is not just a religious Yatra. Security forces, 'pitthus', and every service provider are involved in it... The enthusiasm among the devotees is unparalleled. I pray that everyone's wishes are fulfilled and there is peace and happiness in Kashmir and the rest of the country,' he said. Kavita Saini, a pilgrim making her first trip to Amarnath, also shared her experience. 'This is my first time for the Amarnath Yatra. The experience is very good. We got our medical certificate and registration from here. Everyone was very helpful. The Delhi Police and Kashmir Police were all very helpful to us... I will pray that there is peace and happiness in our country and that whatever happened recently does not happen again.' The 38-day pilgrimage will begin on July 3 and end on August 9. It will follow two routes, the traditional 48-kilometre Pahalgam route in Anantnag district and the shorter but steeper 14-kilometre Baltal route in Ganderbal district. The first group of pilgrims departed from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu on July 2. Security across the Jammu region has been stepped up significantly in the wake of the April 2025 terror attack in Pahalgam. Over 50,000 personnel from the CRPF, Army, and Police have been deployed. CCTV cameras, drones, jammers, and facial recognition systems are being used to monitor the route. Arrangements have also been made for medical teams, air ambulances, and emergency evacuation, to ensure the safety of all pilgrims. (ANI)
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
Breaking News Live Updates: 'US strikes set back Iran nuclear program by up to two years,' says Pentagon
05:03 (IST) Jul 03 Another batch of devotees set to depart for the pilgrimage to the Holy cave of Shri Amarnath Baba with the chants of 'Har Har Mahadev' and 'Bam Bam Bhole'
Hans India
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Locals receive first batch of Amarnath Yatra pilgrims with warmth in Kashmir
Srinagar: A large number of locals drawn from different sections of the society on Wednesday lined up at the Navyug Tunnel to receive the first batch of Amarnath Yatra pilgrims as they entered Kashmir. Members of the civil society, traders and local residents from the South Kashmir districts of Anantnag and Kulgam lined up holding garlands and placards to welcome the Yatris. The spontaneous welcome of the first batch of Amarnath Yatris on their entry into the Valley made a powerful statement about the rejection of terrorism and an assertion of communal harmony and the historic support of the Yatra by the people of Kashmir. In the morning, Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off the first batch of Yatris for this year's Amarnath Yatra from Jammu for the Valley as the 36-day long pilgrimage begins on Thursday. Amid slogans of 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai', 'Bum Bum Bhole', 'Har Har Mahadev' and 'Barfani Baba Ne Bulaya Hai', enthusiastic Yatris from different parts of the country left in two escorted convoys from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas on Canal Road in Jammu for the two Yatra base camps of Pahalgam in Anantnag district and Baltal in Ganderbal district. The Lt Governor was accompanied by senior civil and police officers when he flagged off the first batch of this year's Yatra for the Valley. Manoj Sinha is also the chairman of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) that manages the affairs of the Yatra. Official sources told IANS, 'A total of 5,892 Yatris left in two escorted convoys for the Shri Amarnath ji Yatra from here today. Of these, 3403 Yatris are going to Nunwan (Pahalgam) base camp while 2,489 are going to Baltal base camp'. Unprecedented security is being provided to this year's Amarnath Yatra, as this is taking place after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 civilians were killed by Pakistan-backed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists. An additional 180 companies of CAPFs have been deployed to augment the existing security set-up comprising the Army, security forces and the J&K Police. The Yatra will officially start on Thursday and conclude after 36 days on August 9, coinciding with the Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan festivals. Devotees approach the holy cave shrine situated 3888 metres above sea level either from the traditional Pahalgam route or the shorter Baltal route. Those using the Pahalgam route trek from Pahalgam to Chandanwati, Sheshnag and Panchtarni to reach the holy cave shrine, taking four days to cover the 46 km long trek. And the pilgrims using the Baltal route return to the base camp the same day after having 'darshan' inside the cave shrine, covering a 14 km long trek. Due to security reasons, no helicopter services are available to the Yatris this year. The cave shrine houses an ice stalagmite structure that wanes and waxes with the phases of the moon. Devotees believe that the ice stalagmite structure symbolises the mythical powers of Lord Shiva.
United News of India
a day ago
- United News of India
Amarnath Yatra: 'Bam Bam Bhole' chants echo through Yatri Niwas as LG Sinha flags off first batch of pilgrims
Jammu, July 2 (UNI) The chants of 'Bam Bam Bhole' echoed in the air early this morning as the Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off the first batch of pilgrims here from the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas base camp. Enthusiasm was visible among the devotees who boarded the buses for onwards journeys. Chanting 'Bam Bam Bhole' and 'Har Har Mahadev', the devotees expressed happiness at the start of the yatra. A senior official announced the establishment of 60 RFID centres in five prominent districts within the Jammu region. He also added that the yatra will be allowed only via road under proper regulation by the administration and security forces, adding that elaborate arrangements have been put in place in the Bhagwati Nagar Yatra camp, where the Yatris will arrive before leaving in convoys for Baltal and Pahalgam base camps. A total of 141 lodgment centres have also been established in Jammu Division with adequate civic amenities and security arrangements, while 52 langars and 60 RFID centres are made functional in Jammu, Kathua, Samba, Udhampur and Ramban Districts, and five registration centres with a token centre at Saraswati Dham are also made operational in Jammu, he added. However, the convoy was escorted by security forces from Jammu to the base camps in Kashmir. UNI VBH ARN 0808
United News of India
2 days ago
- United News of India
Amarnath Yatra: ‘Bam Bam Bhole' chants in air as first batch to leave on Wednesday
Jammu, July 1 (UNI) The surroundings have turned devotional in the 'City of Temples' with the chants of 'Bam Bam Bhole' in the air as the first batch of Shri Amarnath Yatra will be flagged off on Wednesday here from Bhagwati Nagar-Yatri Niwas base camp. Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha will flag off the first batch. Devotees comprising 'sadhus' have arrived at the Yatri Niwas and other centres for the yatra leaving from here tomorrow. Chanting 'Bam Bam Bhole' and 'Har Har Mahadev', a rush of pilgrims arrived here to join the first batch amid tight security arrangements. The pilgrims after proceedings for the holy cave in Anantnag district of South Kashmir Himalayas will pay obeisance at the naturally formed ice Lingam. 'We are happy with the start of the yatra. I had got my registration done online and reached Jammu last evening,' said a devotee. Lauding the Jammu and Kashmir administration and the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board for the adequate arrangements made, he said, 'very good arrangements are made by the administration for the pilgrims whether it is registration counter, langar (community kitchen), transport or security, everything is commendable.' Authorities have also opened the token distribution centre at Saraswati Dham for pilgrims undertaking the Yatra by registering themselves through offline mode. 'The registration after getting the token can be completed at the centres at Vaishnavi Dham, Panchayat Bhawan and Mahajan Sabha opens at 7 am,' said an official. He also revealed that per day only 2,000 registrations are to be done, adding, 'the counters will close after the quota is exhausted.' Jammu Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar had recently said that Amarnath Yatra would not be allowed through railways and 60 RFID centres are also established at five prominent districts in the Jammu region. 'Yatra will not be allowed through the railways. It will be allowed only via road under proper regulation by the administration and security forces,' Kumar had said. He said that elaborate arrangements have been put in place in Bhagwati Nagar Yatra camp, where yatris would arrive before leaving in convoys for Baltal and Pahalgam Yatra base camps. 'A total of 141 lodgment centres have been established in Jammu Division with adequate civic amenities and security arrangements, while 52 langars and 60 RFID centres will function in Jammu, Kathua, Samba, Udhampur and Ramban Districts and five Registration centres with a token centre at Saraswati Dham are being made functional in Jammu,' he added. The IGP Jammu also appealed to the people to adhere to the dos and don'ts and public advisories being issued by the administration. The general public can avail live information pertaining to the holy yatra from the dedicated control rooms, he said. The authorities said foolproof security arrangements are made for the smooth conduct of the Yatra. The Lakhanpur corridor in Kathua district -- the first entry point to Jammu and Kashmir for pilgrims arriving via road -- has also been transformed into a well-equipped, multi-utility facilitation centre by the administration. A 24x7 Information Help Desk has been made operational to respond to yatris' queries and assist them throughout their stay. The traffic department has also issued advisory for the commercial and private vehicles plying on the highways and city roads at the time of movement of yatra convoys. The locals in Jammu, however, have expressed happiness over the start of the yatra saying that they are ready to welcome the devotees from all over the country. UNI VBH PRS
