New Delhi, July 8 (IANS) The seventh batch of pilgrims undertaking the annual Amarnath Yatra departed from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu on Wednesday amid an atmosphere of devotion and elaborate security arrangements, as thousands of devotees continued their journey to the holy cave shrine in the Kashmir Himalayas.

Pilgrims expressed satisfaction with the facilities and security arrangements put in place by the authorities, with many describing the pilgrimage as a spiritually fulfilling experience.

One of the devotees appreciated the support extended by the administration throughout the journey.

“The weather, we thought, would be a little colder, but it is also very hot here… They are guiding us properly and telling us what to do at every step. They are doing a great job…” the devotee told IANS.

Another pilgrim lauded the arrangements made for the Yatra, saying, “Everything is very good. The service provided is also very good…”

Sharing his spiritual journey, another devotee said he had been travelling across the country in the service of Sanatan Dharma and considered his return to the Amarnath shrine a blessing.

“Since 2022, I have set out on a Bharat Bhraman (India tour) journey for Sanatan Dharma… I had come last year, and in 2025 it was my first visit. It is only due to Baba’s blessings that I feel he has called me for the second year as well… The arrangements were very good…”

Authorities have deployed multi-layered security along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and at key transit points to ensure the safe movement of pilgrims. Medical teams, disaster response personnel and volunteers have also been stationed along the Yatra routes to assist devotees.

The annual pilgrimage to the 3,880-metre-high holy cave shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva is one of the most significant religious events in the country, attracting devotees from across India and abroad every year.

Meanwhile, the Amarnath Yatra has continued to witness an overwhelming response since it began on July 3, with the total number of pilgrims crossing the one lakh mark within just five days of the pilgrimage.

According to official figures, 15,947 pilgrims paid obeisance at the holy cave shrine via the Baltal and Chandanwari routes till 1 p.m. on Tuesday, taking the cumulative number of devotees to 1,01,706.

“Till 1 p.m. today, 15,947 pilgrims paid obeisance at the holy cave shrine via the Baltal and Chandanwari routes, taking the cumulative number of devotees to 1,01,706,” an official release said.

Officials said the largest batch of pilgrims so far, 8815 devotees, including 31 foreign nationals, left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp on Tuesday under tight security. The batch comprised 5,831 men, 2,193 women, 31 children, 598 sadhus, 131 sadhvis and 31 foreign nationals.

According to the authorities, more than 90,000 pilgrims completed their ‘darshan’ at the holy cave during the first four days of the Yatra. Tuesday’s convoy was the largest since the pilgrimage began, surpassing the previous batches of 6,721 pilgrims on Sunday, 5,794 on July 6 and 4,812 on July 4, reflecting the unprecedented enthusiasm among devotees this year.

–IANS

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