Srinagar. The annual Amarnath Yatra to the holy Amarnath cave situated at an altitude of about 3,880 meters above sea level in the South Kashmir Himalayas formally began on Friday. On the first day of the yatra, groups of devotees left for the holy cave from Baltal and Nunwan (Pahalgam) base camps.
According to officials, the yatra started on both routes on time despite intermittent rain. Devotees took the 48 km long traditional Nunwan-Pahalgam route and the 14 km long Baltal route to have the darshan of Baba Barfani.
A large number of men, women and saints participated in the yatra. As early as the morning, the devotees were dispatched from Nunwan base camp in Anantnag district of South Kashmir and Baltal base camp in Sonamarg in Ganderbal district of Central Kashmir. Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendents of Police of the respective districts flagged off the Yatra. During this time, the whole atmosphere became devotional with the shouts of ‘Bam-Bam Bhole’.
Earlier on Thursday, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha had flagged off the first batch of more than 4,809 pilgrims from Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu. In the afternoon the group reached Kashmir Valley, where the administration and local people warmly welcomed the devotees.
Devotees will visit and worship the naturally formed sacred ice Shivalinga in the Amarnath cave.
Extensive security arrangements have been made to conduct the Yatra in a safe and orderly manner. Thousands of personnel of police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and other paramilitary forces have been deployed at various places. Along with this, arrangements have also been made for aerial surveillance on the entire yatra route.
This annual Amarnath Yatra, which lasts for 57 days, will conclude on 28th August.
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