Faith trumps fear: Undeterred by Pahalgam attack, 1.3 lakh pilgrims embark on Amarnath yatra in first week

Srinagar: Over two and half months after a gruesome terrorist attack in Pahalgam killed 25 tourists and a local resident, faith has proven stronger than fear as nearly 1.30 lakh pilgrims have paid obeisance at the Amarnath cave shrine in the first seven days of the annual pilgrimage.

The April 22 attack, carried out by The Resistance Front (TRF), a terror outfit widely regarded as a proxy for the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), had raised serious concerns about the safety of the yatra.

Yet, the fear the attackers tried to instill has been met with remarkable defiance by thousands of devotees from across the country and abroad.

Chanting “Bum Bum Bhole” and dancing along the steep, forested trails of South Kashmir, the pilgrims have surged ahead in what officials say is one of the most enthusiastic turnouts in recent years.

“This yatra is not just a journey to a holy shrine. It is a message to those who want to break Kashmir’s bond with the rest of India through violence. We are not scared,” said Manoj Tiwari, a pilgrim from Uttar Pradesh, as he waited in the queue near the Baltal base camp.

The 38-day pilgrimage to the 3,880-metre-high Himalayan shrine began on July 3 along two routes – the 48-km-long traditional Pahalgam track in Anantnag and the shorter 14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal. It is scheduled to conclude on August 9, coinciding with Raksha Bandhan and Shravan Purnima.

Officials said elaborate security arrangements, including multi-layered checkpoints, drone surveillance, RFID tracking, and CRPF-led road protection teams, have helped instill confidence among the pilgrims.

“The security environment has significantly improved. There is close coordination between civil and security agencies. The smooth conduct so far is a tribute to the resilience of both the pilgrims and the people of Kashmir,” said a senior police officer overseeing yatra security.

The April 22 attack – the deadliest targeting tourists in Kashmir– had triggered a brief tourism lull in the Valley. But the Valley has bounced back, with hotels once again brimming with guests and pony-wallahs, hoteliers, and guides returning to work.

“There was a fear that people would cancel their travel plans. But we have seen the opposite,” said Shakeel Ahmad, a cab driver. “Tourists are coming, pilgrims are coming, and they are showing love and trust in us.”

Despite the April 22 tragedy, the current yatra is being seen as a strong message of unity, faith, and national resilience – defying those who seek to divide through terror.

“This is not just a pilgrimage. It is an act of faith and courage,” said Sushma Verma, a pilgrim from Gujarat. “We prayed for those who lost their lives in April, and we pray that peace returns to Kashmir forever.”