A member of Mountain Rescue Team (MRT) assists a pilgrim during the annual Amarnath Yatra(L), A pilgrim prays before a banner featuring the Amarnath cave shrine as she arrives for registration for the annual pilgrimage.
Credit: PTI Photos
Srinagar: In the face of natural disasters, pandemics, and security challenges, the Amarnath Yatra continues to stand as a powerful testament to unshakable devotion. Over the past 15 years, more than 51 lakh pilgrims have defied the odds to reach the sacred Amarnath cave shrine in Kashmir—underscoring that for millions, faith remains stronger than fear.
Official records chart a turbulent yet inspiring journey of the annual pilgrimage to south Kashmir Himalayas, with footfall rising and falling in response to everything from terrorist threats to cloudbursts. The yatra peaked in 2012, when 6.35 lakh devotees made the arduous journey. But by 2016, numbers had plummeted to 2.21 lakh, amid rising security concerns and political unrest after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani.
Despite the setbacks, the spiritual pull of the yatra has endured. From 4.55 lakh pilgrims in 2010 to 6.21 lakh in 2011, the early years of the last decade saw high participation. Then came a period of disruption—from violent protests to devastating weather events—that tested the resilience of both pilgrims and the administration.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought the pilgrimage to a standstill in 2020 and 2021, forcing a complete suspension. Yet the spirit of devotion could not be quarantined for long. The yatra resumed in 2022 with 3.04 lakh pilgrims, followed by 4.50 lakh in 2023, and a decade-high 5 lakh in 2024, including a growing number of international participants.
This year’s 2025 Amarnath Yatra, which is currently underway, has already witnessed nearly 2.40 lakh pilgrims paying obeisance at the high-altitude cave shrine. With three weeks left before its scheduled conclusion on August 9, the turnout is expected to rise significantly.
Pilgrims wait in queues for their registration for the annual Amarnath Yatra, outside Saraswati Dham in Jammu.
Credit: PTI Photo
The duration of the pilgrimage has also seen changes over the years. While the 2021 yatra was planned for 56 days but suspended due to the pandemic, it was held over 43 days in 2022, 62 days in 2023, and 52 days in 2024. The current yatra spans 38 days, balancing tradition with logistical preparedness.
Officials credit the resurgence to enhanced infrastructure, stronger disaster preparedness, and tighter security. Pilgrims now benefit from real-time weather alerts, RFID tracking, and well-equipped medical camps.
Yet, risks remain. Cloudbursts like the one in 2022 that claimed over a dozen lives, frequent landslides, and sporadic militant threats continue to cast a shadow. But they have not deterred the faithful. “The Amarnath Yatra is a journey of devotion through danger—where belief triumphs over adversity,” said a senior official overseeing the pilgrimage.
From icy paths to spiritual resolve, the story of the Amarnath Yatra is not just one of endurance but of defiance in the face of fear. Year after year, it reaffirms that no force—natural or man-made—can shake the faith of the pilgrims who tread an uphill spiritual odyssey to the 3,880-metre-high cave shrine nestled in the folds of the Himalayas to seek divine blessings.