Amarnath Yatra 2025 Commences: First Puja to Take Place in the Sacred Cave Today

Jammu & Kashmir: The 2025 annual pilgrimage to Shri Amarnath Dham in Jammu and Kashmir commenced on Wednesday. On the auspicious occasion of Jyeshtha Purnima, the first puja is being organized in the holy cave, in which members of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, senior officials, and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha will also participate if the conditions are favorable.

Shri Amarnath Dham is located at an altitude of about 3,888 meters above sea level and can be reached after a difficult trek of about 34 kilometers from Pahalgam. Every year, lakhs of devotees reach here to visit the ice lingam of Baba Barfani. This time the Yatra will start on July 3 and conclude on August 9, the day of Raksha Bandhan. The first batch of pilgrims is scheduled to depart from Jammu for Kashmir on July 2.

Special ritual will be held in the holy cave

The pilgrimage is being formally started with the first worship of Lord Shankar in the holy cave on Wednesday morning. The Shrine Board said that during the Yatra, special aarti will be held every morning and evening, for which experienced and learned priests have been appointed.

Arrangements for langars are almost complete

With the permission of the Shrine Board, this time around 125 langars are being set up on the Amarnath Yatra route. Most of these langars will be installed along the Baltal and Domel routes, while additional langars will also be set up along the Yatra paths from Lakhanpur to Srinagar and from Pahalgam to the sacred cave. Strict instructions have been given to avoid oily food in the food served in the langar so that there are no health-related problems.

Administration alert regarding the safety of pilgrims

People's Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti described the success and safety of the Yatra as the collective responsibility of Kashmiris. She said that it is the duty of Kashmiris to provide a safe environment to the pilgrims coming from the country and abroad. This Yatra proves to be a boon not only for religion but also for tourism and local businesses in Kashmir.

Security agencies on high alert

The Jammu and Kashmir Police, along with paramilitary forces, have intensified security measures across the entire Amarnath Yatra route to ensure the safety of pilgrims. Drone surveillance is being done in sensitive areas, and the number of CCTV cameras has been increased. Registration of pilgrims, medical checkups, and tracking systems have also been digitally linked this time.

Excitement among devotees

There is great enthusiasm among the devotees about the first darshan of the holy ice lingam. Queues of pilgrims have formed on both the Pahalgam and Baltal routes for the first batch. The Meteorological Department has also predicted favorable weather for the initial week.

Amarnath Yatra 2025 is being inaugurated with a combination of religious faith, security, and administrative preparations. Devotees from all over the country are reaching to have darshan of Baba Barfani, and the administration is engaged in ensuring their convenience and security at every level