After a gap of 2 years, Amarnath Yatra begins amid tight security

Chants of ‘Bam Bam Bhole’ and ‘Har Har Mahadev’ reverberated the air at daybreak as ecstatic pilgrims began an arduous journey of faith to the Amarnath Cave Shrine housed among the mighty Himalaya peaks at an elevation of 3880 metres. The pilgrims expressed happiness over the resumption of the annual pilgrimage this year after a gap of almost three years. In 2019, the Yatra was curtailed days ahead of the abrogation of Article 370. The pilgrimage did not take place in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Pilgrims left in a secured convoy to perform pilgrimage to the cave shrine of Amarnath in the south Himalayas amid tight security arrangements. Credit: PTI Photo

Chanting 'Bam Bam Bhole', the pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in a cavalcade of 230 vehicles early on June 30. Credit: PTI Photo

The 43-day pilgrimage to the cave shrine will conclude on August 11 on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. Credit: PTI Photo

The annual Amarnath Yatra is being organised after a gap of two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Credit: PTI Photo

With the 2nd batch, the total number of pilgrims, who have left for the Amarnath cave shrine from Jammu goes up to 10,700. Credit: PTI Photo

Over 5,000 to 6,000 fresh pilgrims have arrived in Jammu from various places across the country for their onward journey to Amarnath. Credit: PTI Photo

After on-the-spot registration at three counters and supply of tokens at two counters, they have been lodged in 32 lodging centres and basecamps in Kashmir. Credit: PTI Photo

The Yatra commenced on June 29 from the traditional 48-km Nunwan route in south Kashmir’s Pahalgam and the 14-km Baltal route in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal. Credit: PTI Photo