Annual Budha Amarnath Yatra Begins Amid Tight Security In J&K’s Poonch
Amid Vedic chants, ‘shankhnaad,’ and cries of “Bum Bum Bhole,” the convoy departed under tight multi-tier security: Reports
SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday flagged off the first batch of over 1,000 pilgrims for the Budha Amarnath Yatra from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu, marking the start of the 12-day pilgrimage to the historic Lord Shiva temple in Rajpura village of frontier Poonch district.
Amid Vedic chants, ‘shankhnaad,’ and cries of “Bum Bum Bhole,” the convoy departed under tight multi-tier security.
Sinha extended heartfelt wishes for a safe and spiritually enriching journey, describing the pilgrimage as a transformative experience that “unveils the secrets of life.” He praised the efforts of Baba Amarnath and Budha Amarnath Yatri Nyas, the tourism department, district administration, and langar organizers for their meticulous arrangements.
He also noted that over 3.77 lakh devotees have completed the Amarnath Yatra this year, expressing gratitude to the J&K administration for their dedicated efforts. The Lt. Governor expressed hope that likewise devotees from across the country would visit the Budha Amarnath temple to pray for the prosperity of the nation and Jammu & Kashmir.
The annual yatra, initiated by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad in 2005, concludes on August 7 with the arrival of the Charri Mubarak at the shrine. The temple, situated along the sacred Pulsata river, is one of the oldest shrines in the Jammu region, attracting thousands annually. Robust security measures, including CCTV surveillance, area domination, and extensive combing operations in Jammu, Poonch, and Rajouri, have been implemented to ensure a safe and incident-free yatra.
