News on AIR

In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the annual Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra 2024 will formally begin tomorrow with gaiety and religious fervour in the upper Himalayas in south Kashmir. As the first batch of Yatris has reached the Base Camps in the Valley, thousands more have assembled at Yatri Niwas Jammu waiting for their onward journey towards the holy cave.

Earlier, in the morning today, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off the Yatra from Yatri Niwas Base Camp Bhagwati Nagar in Jammu amid tight security cover, which marks the commencement of this year’s annual Yatra of Shri Amarnath ji in the Kashmir Valley.

The 52-day long annual Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra will formally commence tomorrow as the first batch of Yatris drawn from various parts of the country has reached the Nunwan Base Camp Pahalgam in Anantnag district and Baltal Base Camp Sonamarg in Ganderbal district this evening. A total number of 4,603 pilgrims including men, women and Sadhus will begin their onward journey towards the holy cave early tomorrow morning to pay obeisance to naturally formed Ice Shivlingham of Lord Shiva.

After their arrival in Kashmir, senior officials in police & civil administration and local people welcomed the Yatris at the Navyug Tunnel in Qazigund and other places enroute the base camps in the Kashmir Valley. Amid chanting of Bum Bum Bole and Baba Barfani Ki Jai, the Yatris, like always, are quite enthusiastic this year as well to catch a glimpse of the Shiv Parivar inside the holy cave shrine. Around four lakh devotees from across the country have registered online so far.

However, expecting a huge rush, the UT administration has now issued notifications for the offline registrations as well. Meanwhile, elaborate security and other arrangements have been put in place for the smooth conduct of this year’s Shri Amarnath Ji pilgrimage.