June 27th 2024.
The beautiful city of Jammu is getting ready to welcome the first batch of pilgrims for the annual Amarnath Yatra, which is set to begin on June 29th. Excitement and anticipation fill the air as yatris have already started arriving at the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas, the starting point of this holy journey. From here, they will be escorted in convoys to the north Kashmir Baltal and south Kashmir Anantnag base camps.
Authorities have made all necessary arrangements for the safety and convenience of the pilgrims. The first batch of yatris will leave Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas at 4 a.m. on Friday, accompanied by security forces, and will reach the valley the next day for the much-awaited "darshan". To ensure the smooth flow of traffic, hundreds of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) have been deployed along the 300 km long Jammu-Srinagar national highway.
Special teams of CAPFs are also guarding the two base camp roads - the 85 km long Srinagar-Baltal route and the Qazigund-Pahalgam route. Meanwhile, transit camps have been set up at Manigam in Ganderbal district and Mir Bazar on the Qazigund-Pahalgam route to provide temporary shelter and other facilities to the yatris.
With a record number of 3.50 lakh pilgrims registered for this year's yatra, the authorities have also made arrangements for their food and lodging. 125 "langars" have been set up along the two routes, with over 7,000 volunteers serving the pilgrims at these langars. In addition, helicopter services are also available for those who prefer a quicker and more comfortable journey.
The safety of the pilgrims is of utmost importance, and in order to ensure that, 38 mountain rescue teams consisting of National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force, local police, Border Security Forces, and Central Reserve Police Force have been deployed for the yatra.
The Amarnath Yatra is not just a religious journey, but also a display of unity and devotion. Local porters, ponywallahs, and manual laborers contribute greatly to the success of this yatra every year. The traditional route to the holy cave is 48 km long and takes four days to complete, while the shorter Baltal-Cave shrine route is only 14 km and can be completed in a day.
The holy Amarnath cave, situated at an altitude of 3,888 meters, is home to an ice stalagmite structure that is believed to hold the powers of Lord Shiva. Devotees from all over the world come to witness this natural wonder, which waxes and wanes with the phases of the moon. The yatra, which will last for 52 days, will end on August 19th, coinciding with the auspicious festivals of Raksha Bandhan and Shravan Purnima. As the preparations for this year's yatra are in full swing, we hope for a safe and fulfilling journey for all the yatris.
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