Amarnath Yatra Ends Prematurely Due To Hostile Weather

Kashmir’s Divisional Commissioner, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri, on Saturday evening announced the premature halting of the yatra from August 3 along both the Pahalgam and Baltal routes, citing the infeasibility of resuming due to ongoing repairs. Earlier, on July 31, the Pahalgam route was closed for maintenance, with the yatra continuing only via Baltal.

“With the deployment of machinery and personnel on the tracks from tomorrow (Sunday), resumption is not feasible. The Yatra remains suspended from August 3 onwards on both routes,” Bidhuri said.

Earlier on Wednesday night, Bidhuri, the top-most government functionary for the Kashmir Valley, had announced that due to the maintenance works required to be carried out on the Pahalgam axis of Amarnath Yatra route following the recent rains, the pilgrimage will continue only through Baltal axis. “Due to the recent heavy rains, urgent repair and maintenance works are required to be carried out on the Pahalgam Axis of Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra route. The Yatra shall continue from the Baltal axis from 1st August onwards, he had said.

However, reports suggest that the natural ice Shivling in the revered cave-shrine tucked away in the Kashmir lower Himalayas at a height of 13,000 feet (3,882 m) has melted almost completely due to a prolonged heatwave, with temperatures in the Valley exceeding normal levels. Typically, Kashmir enjoys cooler summers (15°C to 30°C), but June and July heat disrupted this pattern. Some reports suggest the large number of pilgrims may have contributed to the melting, though an official dismissed direct human impact, noting protective barriers prevent access to the sanctum sanctorum.

According to reports, the Shiv lingam was in full bloom until mid-June but its size and girth started decreasing afterwards. Earlier reports had suggested that the ice lingams of Parvati and Ganesha had also formed fully inside the cave-shrine.

An official who spoke on the condition of anonymity said that the rush of pilgrims leaving any direct impact on the health of the Shivling was a remote possibility. He pointed out the cave-shrine was, several years ago, secured by 53 feet wide and 7 feet tall second rung of grill fencing which made it impossible for anyone to go near the sanctum sanctorum. Even the security forces deployed in the cave periphery were kept at bay, he said.

The 38-day annual pilgrimage began on July 3 from both traditional Pahalgam and shorter Baltal routes and was scheduled to conclude on August 9, coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan, the two significant Hindu festivals falling on the same day this year. The alignment of these festivals with the Amarnath Yatra's conclusion adds spiritual significance to the event.

Despite the early suspension, the Chhari Mubarak will proceed to the cave on August 9 for traditional rituals, as confirmed by Mahant Deependra Giri.

Mahant Giri, the custodian of the holy mace of Lord Shiva, said that it will, as per the programme announced earlier, begin its final journey towards Amarnath from the Amareshwar Temple at Srinagar’s Dashnami Akhara Building on August 4. “The Chhari Mubarak will, after traditional puja ceremonies to be held en-route at Pampore, Bijbehara, Mattan, and Pahalgam, reach the holy cave-shrine on August 9 morning where the traditional puja, a grand havan and the final aarti will be performed, marking the culmination of the Yatra”, he said.

Despite challenging weather conditions, officials reported that 6,497 pilgrims visited the Amarnath cave-shrine on August 2, bringing the total number of devotees for this year’s yatra to 414,311. In comparison, over 510,000 pilgrims participated in the sacred journey last year.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who is also the chairman of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), praised the yatra’s success in crossing 4 lakh visitors by July 31, attributing it to robust arrangements and divine blessings. He highlighted the pilgrimage’s spiritual significance and its role in showcasing India’s unity.

Expressing gratitude to all the stakeholders involved in the arrangement of annual pilgrimage, he said in a post on ‘X’, “Baba Amarnath makes the impossible possible. With his blessings, the Holy Yatra today crossed the figure of 4 Lakh. I bow to Lord Shiva for this miracle and express my gratitude to everyone involved in making the holy pilgrimage a divine experience for devotees.”

He has asserted. “The record number of Darshans and arrival of devotees from across the country and the globe is a testament to India's unity and its resolve to overcome the challenges. I am truly thankful to the devotees, who have shown immense faith and strengthened our priceless spiritual heritage.”

Sinha had further stated, “This godly expedition is incomparable not because it is arduous and challenging but because it is an inimitable journey into pure bliss. It's a spiritual experience and gives an opportunity to devotees to know themselves and offers deep trust and fills their hearts with infinite gratitude”.

The April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which killed 25 tourists and a local horse-handler, initially sparked significant fear among pilgrims, leading to cancellations of bookings for this year’s Amarnath yatra. The gory incident, raising concerns about the safety of the yatra, led to a 10.19 percent drop in registrations compared to the previous year, with many pilgrims reconsidering their plans due to the heightened security risks.

However, the situation began to stabilize ahead of the yatra due to robust security measures implemented by the authorities. The Jammu and Kashmir administration, under Lt. Governor Sinha, introduced extensive security arrangements, including the deployment of 581 Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) companies, intensified patrolling, and the use of anti-drone and air defense systems along the pilgrimage routes. Operation Shiva was launched specifically to ensure the safe conduct of the yatra, incorporating measures like RFID tags for pilgrims and enhanced coordination with security forces. These efforts restored confidence among pilgrims and by July 31, the number crossed 4 lakh, demonstrating a significant recovery in pilgrim turnout despite the earlier setback.

The legend goes that during the month of Sawan or Shravan (July and August), the ice stalagmite forms a natural Shivling or ice-lingam that of Shiva or Siva which waxes and wanes with the phases of the moon at Amarnath-the interesting phenomenon that attracts tens of thousands of devotees from across the country and abroad every year.

During the pilgrimage the devotees embark on the tedious journey through rugged mountains by walking, some ride on ponyback, or are carried in palanquins, to pay obeisance at the cave-believed to be the abode of Lord Siva. By the side of Siva's are two other ice lingams, believed to be those of Parvati, and their son, Ganesha.

In 2008, the cave-shrine witnessed a magnificent formation of the Shiv Lingam after three years. Some experts had attributed the non-formation of the lingam in those years to global warming and shifting of glaciers. History records that the first pilgrimage to the cave-shrine was undertaken in 1000 BC, though little else is known of the antiquity of Amarnath.