Farooq Tantary CNI
Jammu, July 2: Marking the beginning of the annual spiritual journey, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today flagged off the first batch of Shri Amarnathji Yatra pilgrims from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu.
The early morning atmosphere was charged with devotion as thousands of pilgrims, chanting “Bum Bum Bhole” and “Har Har Mahadev,” embarked on their journey towards the holy cave shrine of Lord Shiva nestled in the Himalayas.
According to officials, over 3,500 pilgrims, divided into two batches, left Jammu this morning under heavy security cover. Comprehensive security arrangements have been deployed along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) to ensure the safe and smooth passage of the yatris. Surveillance and monitoring along the route have been significantly heightened.
Extending his best wishes to the pilgrims, LG Manoj Sinha posted on X (formerly Twitter): “Wishing all spiritual seekers a safe and comfortable journey to the holy abode of Lord Shiva and a deeply soul-stirring experience. Prayed to Baba Amarnath for peace and blessings to all.”
In the run-up to the yatra, the Lieutenant Governor had personally visited the Yatri Niwas base camp at Bhagwati Nagar on Tuesday to assess the preparedness. During his inspection, he reviewed critical facilities including accommodation, food services, registration counters, sanitation, power and water supply, security measures, medical support, and emergency response mechanisms.
LG Sinha also took time to interact with several pilgrims during his visit, offering them his best wishes for a safe and spiritually enriching pilgrimage.
Demonstrating a whole-of-government approach, LG Sinha earlier this week chaired an all-party meeting to brief political leaders on the state’s readiness for the yatra. In addition, he held multiple rounds of consultations with civil society representatives, trade associations, religious organizations, and law enforcement agencies to fine-tune the arrangements and security grid.
The administration remains committed to providing a safe, peaceful, and well-organized pilgrimage experience for all devotees participating in the 2025 edition of the Shri Amarnathji Yatra.(CNI)