Srinagar, June 29: The annual Amarnath Yatra officially commenced its spiritual proceedings today with the performance of the traditional Pratham Puja at the holy cave shrine. Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha performed the inaugural rituals on the occasion of Jyeshtha Purnima, seeking blessings for regional peace, prosperity, and the collective well-being of the public. Organized annually by the Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board, the upcoming pilgrimage is scheduled to span 57 days, running concurrently along two distinct mountain tracks through central and south Kashmir.
Top administrative and security wings are coordinating closely to ensure extensive logistical backing for the thousands of incoming visitors. Lieutenant Governor Sinha stated that multiple state departments, the armed forces, local communities, and voluntary groups are functioning with complete alignment. He affirmed that the upgraded infrastructure across both transit axes is fully operational to provide a seamless experience for the devotees.
“The Yatra is set to commence on July 3, with the administration, the Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board, the Army, Police, security forces, the local community, service providers, and volunteers working in complete synergy,” Sinha declared, extending an open invitation to pilgrims nationwide.
The extensive pilgrimage season will conclude on August 28, 2026, coinciding with the festival of Raksha Bandhan. Senior administrative and police dignitaries attended the inaugural ceremony at the cave site to review the on-ground arrangements. Among the officials present were J&K DGP Nalin Prabhat, Special DG Coordination S.J.M. Gillani, and Dr Mandeep K. Bhandari, Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor and CEO of the Shrine Board.
The logistical review also included field insights from key sector heads, including Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg, Baltal Axis Nodal Officer Rahul Yadav, IGP Kashmir V.K. Birdi, and DIG CKR Rajiv Omprakash. Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal Jatin Kishore, Deputy Commissioner Anantnag Dr Bilal Mohiuddin Bhat, and Director Information Shreya Singhal also participated in the session, verifying that medical, security, and transport networks are fully deployed along the designated routes.
