Union Minister Shobha joins yatra, says ‘atmosphere is very pleasant’
Srinagar: The Amarnath Yatra 2025 commenced on Thursday with over 12,000 pilgrims paying obeisance at the sacred Amarnath cave shrine in the South Kashmir Himalayas, marking a spiritually vibrant beginning to the 38-day annual pilgrimage.
Officials confirmed that a total of 12,348 devotees had darshan of the naturally formed ice Shivling at the 3,880-metre-high holy cave on the first day. The figure comprised 9,181 male pilgrims, 2,223 female pilgrims, 99 children, 122 sadhus, seven sadhvis, and eight transgender pilgrims.
The pilgrimage began early Thursday morning from both the Baltal base camp in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district and the Nunwan base camp in Pahalgam, South Kashmir’s Anantnag district. The traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route and the 14-km Baltal route saw a large number of pilgrims chanting “Bam Bam Bhole” and “Har Har Mahadev” as they set out on the challenging yet spiritually rewarding journey.
Despite the difficult terrain and unpredictable weather, there was palpable excitement and devotion among the yatris. “Baba has blessed us and there is tremendous excitement and enthusiasm around,” said a pilgrim from Gujarat. Another devotee remarked on the extensive security presence and facilities, stating, “There are very good arrangements. Security forces are deployed in large numbers. There is stringent security. Other arrangements also are up to the mark.”
Among the devotees undertaking the yatra was Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje, who followed the Baltal route to the holy shrine.
On Wednesday, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off the first batch of 5,892 pilgrims from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu. The group reached the Kashmir Valley in the afternoon and was warmly welcomed by officials and locals, reflecting the deep cultural and spiritual connection the yatra holds for people across the country.
Authorities have taken unprecedented security measures to ensure the safety of the pilgrims, particularly in the wake of the tragic Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, which resulted in the death of 26 individuals. Security forces, including police and paramilitary personnel, have been deployed in large numbers along the yatra route. Aerial surveillance, multi-layered checkpoints, and real-time monitoring systems are also in place.
The Amarnath cave shrine is widely revered as the abode of Lord Shiva, with the naturally formed ice stalagmite — symbolic of the Shivling — drawing lakhs of devotees each year. The formation is known to melt gradually, making the window of darshan brief and sacred.
The Amarnath Yatra 2025 will continue for 38 days, culminating on August 9. The government and security agencies continue to monitor the situation closely to ensure a smooth, safe, and spiritually fulfilling experience for all devotees.
Meanwhile, Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje visited the Amarnath Yatra base camp in Baltal on Thursday and expressed her joy over the spiritual journey and the ongoing development works in the area.
She joined thousands of devotees on the 2025 Amarnath Yatra to seek blessings of Lord Shiva.
Speaking to news agency during her visit, she said, “Today, we are all going to have the darshan of Bholenath. It feels wonderful… May God bless us all. The atmosphere here is very pleasant… people are feeling good because development work is happening here too…”
The Union Minister praised the efforts made by local authorities and the government to improve facilities and infrastructure around the pilgrimage route. She noted that enhanced arrangements have added to the comfort and spiritual experience of the yatris (pilgrims).
