Over 12,000 Devotees Mark Strong Start to Amarnath Yatra

The annual Amarnath Yatra got off to a strong start on Friday, with more than 12,100 pilgrims offering prayers at the sacred cave shrine in the Himalayas of Jammu and Kashmir. The impressive turnout on the opening day reflects the enduring faith of devotees and growing confidence in the extensive security and logistical arrangements put in place for one of India's most revered religious pilgrimages.

The 57-day pilgrimage , which concludes on August 28 , commenced simultaneously through the traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag district and the shorter but steeper 14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal district. Situated at an altitude of nearly 3,800 metres , the shrine houses the naturally formed ice Shivling , popularly known as Baba Barfani , which attracts lakhs of devotees from across the country every year.

According to officials, the opening-day pilgrims included around 9,350 men, 2,250 women, more than 200 children, 70 sadhus, nine transgender devotees and over 260 security personnel . Pilgrims began their trek before dawn from the Nunwan and Baltal base camps , chanting hymns and prayers as they made their way to the holy cave.

The pilgrimage holds immense religious significance in Hindu tradition. According to mythology, the cave is believed to be the place where Lord Shiva revealed the secret of immortality, known as the Amar Katha , to Goddess Parvati. Historical references to the shrine appear in ancient texts such as the Nilamata Purana and Kalhana's Rajatarangini , highlighting its centuries-old spiritual importance.

This year's Yatra is being conducted under the largest security deployment in its history . The Union Home Ministry has sanctioned the deployment of 670 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) , supplemented by the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and intelligence agencies. Security has been further enhanced through Project Hawk Eye , an advanced surveillance network featuring 416 high-resolution CCTV cameras, facial recognition systems, drones, UAVs, AI-powered monitoring tools, GPS-enabled RFID tracking cards, 22 sniper teams and 28 observation posts .

Authorities have also declared the pilgrimage routes as No-Fly Zones , while helicopter services remain suspended for the second consecutive year. Alongside tight security, extensive arrangements have been made for accommodation, medical care, sanitation, weather monitoring and emergency response.

With over 3.9 lakh pilgrims already registered , the strong opening-day turnout signals another significant year for the Amarnath Yatra, where ancient faith continues to be supported by modern technology and robust administrative planning.