Onlykashmir.in News Desk
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday performed the Pratham Puja at the Holy Cave of Shri Amarnath Ji, marking the ceremonial commencement of one of India’s most revered annual pilgrimages. The sacred ritual, conducted at the high-altitude shrine nestled in the mountains of Anantnag district, officially sets in motion the preparations for the 57-day Yatra that will formally begin on July 3, 2026, and conclude on August 28, coinciding with the auspicious occasion of Raksha Bandhan.
The Pratham Puja is organised every year by the Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board on Jyeshtha Purnima, a date of deep religious significance in the Hindu calendar. By performing the first prayers at the cave shrine, LG Sinha carried forward a tradition that underscores the administration’s active role in facilitating the pilgrimage and its commitment to the spiritual welfare of lakhs of devotees who undertake this journey each year.
Sinha sought the divine blessings of Baba Barfani and prayed for peace, prosperity, health and well-being of all. Extending a heartfelt invitation to devotees across the country and beyond, he urged them to undertake the pilgrimage in large numbers and expressed confidence in the extensive arrangements put in place by multiple agencies working in coordination.
“As the Yatra commences on July 3, the administration, Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board, Army, police, security forces, local community, service providers and volunteers are working in complete synergy. With significantly upgraded infrastructure, enhanced facilities and the invaluable support of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, we are fully prepared to welcome devotees for a spiritually fulfilling journey,” Sinha said.
This year’s pilgrimage will be accessible through both traditional routes: the Pahalgam axis in Anantnag district and the Baltal route in Ganderbal district. Both corridors have seen substantial infrastructure upgrades in recent months, including improved road connectivity, expanded medical facilities, enhanced communication networks and reinforced security deployments to ensure smooth movement of pilgrims.
Senior officials present at the occasion included Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat, Special DG Coordination S.J.M. Gillani, Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor and SASB Chief Executive Officer Mandeep K. Bhandari, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg, JKPDCL Managing Director and Baltal Axis Nodal Officer Rahul Yadav, IGP Kashmir V.K. Birdi, DIG CKR Rajiv Omprakash, Deputy Commissioners Jatin Kishore and Bilal Mohiuddin Bhat, Director Information Shreya Singhal and other senior civil and police officers.
The Amarnath Yatra holds immense religious significance for millions of Hindu devotees, drawing pilgrims from every corner of India and from the Indian diaspora abroad. The cave shrine, situated at an altitude of approximately 3,888 metres above sea level, houses a naturally formed ice Shivalinga whose formation and dissolution follows the lunar cycle, making it a phenomenon of both spiritual and natural wonder. The administration’s meticulous preparations reflect the scale and importance of this annual event, which also contributes significantly to the local economy of Jammu and Kashmir.
