On-Site Registration for Amarnath Yatra Commences in Jammu

Jammu, June 29 : The city administration initiated the on-the-spot registration process for devotees arriving in Jammu for the pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave shrine in the south Kashmir Himalayas. With over 1,500 pilgrims, including sadhus, already in Jammu, the yatra to the 3,880-metre shrine is set to commence on July 2. An on-the-spot registration center has been established in the Shalimar area for unregistered pilgrims, while a special camp at the Purani Mandi-based Ram temple complex has been set up for sadhu registration. Over 1,000 pilgrims have gathered at the Bhagwati-Nagar base camp in Jammu, prepared for their onward journey to Kashmir amid tight security arrangements. The 62-day-long pilgrimage will start on July 1 via the traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag district and the 14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal district, known for its steep terrain. Sub-Divisional Magistrate Nargesh Singh stated that the registration process for unregistered pilgrims has commenced on the spot, with all necessary facilities in place for smooth registration. Tehsildar Jai Singh assured that arrangements have also been made to provide the best possible facilities for sadhus. The pilgrims’ excitement and enthusiasm were evident, as they praised the improved registration process, now conducted online, eliminating the need for long queues in hot weather conditions. The arrival of sadhus, who recently completed the Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand, added to the pilgrimage’s significance. One of the pilgrims, Sanjeev Kumar from Uttar Pradesh, expressed delight in visiting the cave shrine for the fourth time. Another pilgrim, 69-year-old Jagdesh Raj from Delhi, shared his happiness at finally being able to personally undertake the pilgrimage after a lifetime of facilitating others. Ramesh Chander Giri, yet another pilgrim, mentioned that this would be his sixth visit to Amarnath.