JAMMU, June 30: Under tight security measures, the initial group of Amarnath pilgrims set off from the Yatri Niwas base camp at Bhagwati Nagar this morning, heading towards Pahalagam and Batla. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Singh officiated the flag-off ceremony, marking the beginning of the pilgrimage to the revered 3,880-meter-high cave shrine of Lord Shiva in the south Kashmir Himalayas. The 62-day-long pilgrimage is scheduled to commence on July 1 from the twin tracks.
In anticipation of the Yatra, several ‘langar’ committees began their preparations three days in advance to cater to the pilgrims. On the Jammu Srinagar National Highway in Udhampur district, these committees have erected sheds, arranged cooking resources, and gathered necessary raw materials. A total of 22 langars have been established along the highway (NHW-44) this year, ensuring provisions for the pilgrims’ nourishment and sustenance.
