Today, June 28, the annual Amarnath Yatra began from Jammu, as Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Minister Nawang Rigzin Jora gave the green signal to the first batch of 2,096 pilgrims set out in 73 vehicles from Bhagwati Nagar, at around 5:00am.
Amarnath caves are located at 13,500 meters above the sea-level in south Kashmir Himalayas.
The first batch of pilgrims included 1,369 men, 421 women, 110 children and 196 Sadhus.
The devotees offered prayers and chanted Lord Shiva slogans like "Bum Bum Bolay, Chalo Amarnath, Chalo Eik Saath" at the event.
So far, 250,000 pilgrims have registered themselves with the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board for the Himalayan pilgrimage.
Officials said the number of pilgrims this year will be an all time high because of "peace in the Kashmir Valley".
"It's great weather in the Kashmir Valley, and this is a blessing of Lord Shiva. These are signs of a successful yatra (pilgrimage)," said Shalini Meena from Sikar in Rajasthan.
But the authorities are not taking any chance.
"All security arrangements are in place," a police officer told reporters.
Vehicles of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Jammu and Kashmir Police would escort the pilgrim convoys from Jammu to the two base camps.
Nearly 30,000 personnel have been deployed for the security of pilgrims, all the way to the cave shrine.
A natural stalagmite of ice, called with reverence the Shivling, forms here. Its first darshan will take place Wednesday.
The pilgrimage is to last until August 13, when Hindus celebrate Raksha Bandhan.
Amarnath caves are located at 13,500 meters above the sea-level in south Kashmir Himalayas.
The first batch of pilgrims included 1,369 men, 421 women, 110 children and 196 Sadhus.
The devotees offered prayers and chanted Lord Shiva slogans like "Bum Bum Bolay, Chalo Amarnath, Chalo Eik Saath" at the event.
So far, 250,000 pilgrims have registered themselves with the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board for the Himalayan pilgrimage.
Officials said the number of pilgrims this year will be an all time high because of "peace in the Kashmir Valley".
"It's great weather in the Kashmir Valley, and this is a blessing of Lord Shiva. These are signs of a successful yatra (pilgrimage)," said Shalini Meena from Sikar in Rajasthan.
But the authorities are not taking any chance.
"All security arrangements are in place," a police officer told reporters.
Vehicles of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Jammu and Kashmir Police would escort the pilgrim convoys from Jammu to the two base camps.
Nearly 30,000 personnel have been deployed for the security of pilgrims, all the way to the cave shrine.
A natural stalagmite of ice, called with reverence the Shivling, forms here. Its first darshan will take place Wednesday.
The pilgrimage is to last until August 13, when Hindus celebrate Raksha Bandhan.
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