New Delhi, July 3 (IANS) The annual Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra 2026 will commence on Friday, with thousands of devotees embarking on the sacred pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine of Lord Shiva amid elaborate security and logistical arrangements.

The 57-day pilgrimage will continue until August 28, allowing more devotees to undertake the revered journey this year.

Ahead of the commencement of the yatra, the first batch of pilgrims reached the twin base camps at Baltal in Ganderbal district and Nunwan (Pahalgam) in Anantnag district on Thursday after departing from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu under escorted convoys.

A total of 4,822 pilgrims travelled in two security-escorted convoys. Of these, 2,510 devotees reached the Nunwan (Pahalgam) base camp, while 2,312 arrived safely at the Baltal base camp.

At Baltal, the pilgrims received a warm welcome from Jammu and Kashmir Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs and Transport Satish Sharma, Deputy Inspector General of Armed Police Maqsood Ul Zaman, Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal Jatin Kishore, and Senior Superintendent of Police Ganderbal Sudhanshu Dhama. The officials interacted with the devotees and wished them a safe, peaceful and spiritually enriching pilgrimage.

The officers assured the pilgrims that comprehensive security, traffic management and public facilitation measures have been put in place through close coordination between the Ganderbal Police, civil administration, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), Health Department and other stakeholder agencies.

Authorities have also established dedicated Helping Hand teams, assistance booths and round-the-clock police deployment to provide guidance, emergency support and ensure the smooth movement of pilgrims along the yatra route. During their interaction with the devotees, the officers urged them to follow all advisories issued by the administration and cooperate with security personnel throughout the pilgrimage.

The Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, Army, police, security forces, civil administration, local residents, service providers and volunteers have joined hands to ensure the annual pilgrimage is conducted in a safe, secure and seamless manner. Jammu and Kashmir Police reaffirmed its commitment to providing every devotee with a secure and memorable pilgrimage experience while extending best wishes for the successful and spiritually fulfilling Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra 2026.

–IANS

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