Pratham Puja Marks Spiritual Beginning of 57-Day Amarnath Yatra
J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha performs inaugural ritual at the holy cave shrine, assures pilgrims of robust security and seamless arrangements.
Srinagar: The annual Amarnath Yatra commenced on a spiritual note on Monday with the performance of the Pratham Puja at the revered Amarnath cave shrine, marking the formal beginning of this year's pilgrimage.
Situated at an altitude of around 13,000 feet (3,882 metres) in the lower Himalayas of Kashmir, the cave shrine is one of Hinduism's holiest pilgrimage sites. The ceremonial ritual, held on the auspicious occasion of Jyeshtha Purnima, signifies the start of the annual pilgrimage to the sacred shrine of Lord Amarnath.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who is also the Chairman of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), participated in the ceremony and offered prayers for peace, prosperity, good health and the well-being of people across the country.
The annual ritual, organised by the Shrine Board, seeks the blessings of Baba Barfani for the smooth, peaceful and successful conduct of the Yatra.
Addressing devotees, Sinha invited pilgrims from across the country to undertake the Yatra in large numbers and assured them that elaborate arrangements have been made to ensure a safe, comfortable and spiritually fulfilling pilgrimage.
He said the administration, SASB, armed forces, J&K Police, security agencies, local communities, service providers and volunteers are working in close coordination to facilitate a seamless pilgrimage.
"Devotees are urged to undertake the Yatra fearlessly. Comprehensive and best-in-class arrangements have been put in place to ensure their safety, comfort and a hassle-free pilgrimage experience," the Lieutenant Governor said.
The 57-day pilgrimage will begin on July 3 and conclude on August 28, coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan. Pilgrims can undertake the journey through either the traditional Pahalgam route in Anantnag district or the shorter Baltal route in Ganderbal district.
Authorities said infrastructure and facilities have been further upgraded this year to improve the overall pilgrimage experience. Security arrangements have also been strengthened across both routes in view of the large influx of devotees expected during the Yatra.
The Pratham Puja was attended by several senior officials, including Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat, Special Director General (Coordination) S.J.M. Gillani, SASB Chief Executive Officer Dr Mandeep K. Bhandari, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg, Inspector General of Police Kashmir V.K. Birdi, and other senior civil and police officers.
With the ceremonial Pratham Puja completed and extensive preparations in place, authorities have expressed confidence that this year's Amarnath Yatra will be conducted smoothly, providing lakhs of devotees with a safe, secure and spiritually enriching pilgrimage to the sacred cave shrine.