Srinagar/Jammu, More than 13,000 pilgrims visited the holy Amarnath cave on Saturday, the first day of the annual pilgrimage in the south Kashmir Himalayas taking place amid tight security.
The first group of pilgrims left the twin base camps of Baltal and Nunwan to begin their journey towards the rock sanctuary located at 3,880 meters above sea level.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted pilgrims at the beginning of the Amarnath Yatra and said that the 'darshan' of Lord Shiva is known to infuse immense energy in his followers.
"My sincere wishes to all the pilgrims on the beginning of the holy Amarnath Yatra. This Yatra associated with the darshan of Baba Barfani infuses immense energy in the devotees of Lord Shiva. May all devotees prosper with its blessings. Jai Baba Barfani” , the Prime Minister said in a post on X in Hindi.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the Modi government is committed to ensuring a safe, smooth and enjoyable pilgrimage to the cave shrine.
"Shri Amarnath Yatra is an eternal symbol of traditionalism and continuity of Indian culture. This divine Yatra begins today. I wish all the devotees good luck for darshan," Shah wrote in 'X' in Hindi.
"Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji, our government is committed to the safe, smooth and enjoyable journey of devotees and the government has made all possible arrangements to ensure that devotees do not face any inconvenience. Har Har Mahadev, "he added.
The Yatra started early in the morning from the twin tracks - the 48-kilometre traditional Nunwan-Pahalgam route at Anantnag and the shorter but steeper 14-kilometre Baltal route at Ganderbal.
"On the first day, as many as 13,736 pilgrims visited the cave shrine to have darshan of the naturally formed ice lingam," an official said.
The pilgrims included 3,300 women, 52 children, 102 sadhus and 682 security personnel who visited the shrine from the two routes.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday saw off the first batch of 4,603 pilgrims from the Yatri Niwas base camp in Bhagwati Nagar, Jammu.
Strict security measures have been implemented for the smooth running of the Yatra.
Thousands of security personnel from the police, Central Reserve Police Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police and other paramilitary forces have been deployed along the route. Aerial surveillance is also being carried out.
The 52-day pilgrimage will conclude on August 19.
Meanwhile, central public sector undertaking ONGC set up two 100-bed hospitals at the twin Amarnath base camps in Kashmir and announced that the facilities would continue to function after the annual yatra.
More than 4.5 lakh pilgrims paid homage to the cave shrine last year.
The first group of pilgrims left the twin base camps of Baltal and Nunwan to begin their journey towards the rock sanctuary located at 3,880 meters above sea level.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted pilgrims at the beginning of the Amarnath Yatra and said that the 'darshan' of Lord Shiva is known to infuse immense energy in his followers.
"My sincere wishes to all the pilgrims on the beginning of the holy Amarnath Yatra. This Yatra associated with the darshan of Baba Barfani infuses immense energy in the devotees of Lord Shiva. May all devotees prosper with its blessings. Jai Baba Barfani” , the Prime Minister said in a post on X in Hindi.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the Modi government is committed to ensuring a safe, smooth and enjoyable pilgrimage to the cave shrine.
"Shri Amarnath Yatra is an eternal symbol of traditionalism and continuity of Indian culture. This divine Yatra begins today. I wish all the devotees good luck for darshan," Shah wrote in 'X' in Hindi.
"Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji, our government is committed to the safe, smooth and enjoyable journey of devotees and the government has made all possible arrangements to ensure that devotees do not face any inconvenience. Har Har Mahadev, "he added.
The Yatra started early in the morning from the twin tracks - the 48-kilometre traditional Nunwan-Pahalgam route at Anantnag and the shorter but steeper 14-kilometre Baltal route at Ganderbal.
"On the first day, as many as 13,736 pilgrims visited the cave shrine to have darshan of the naturally formed ice lingam," an official said.
The pilgrims included 3,300 women, 52 children, 102 sadhus and 682 security personnel who visited the shrine from the two routes.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday saw off the first batch of 4,603 pilgrims from the Yatri Niwas base camp in Bhagwati Nagar, Jammu.
Strict security measures have been implemented for the smooth running of the Yatra.
Thousands of security personnel from the police, Central Reserve Police Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police and other paramilitary forces have been deployed along the route. Aerial surveillance is also being carried out.
The 52-day pilgrimage will conclude on August 19.
Meanwhile, central public sector undertaking ONGC set up two 100-bed hospitals at the twin Amarnath base camps in Kashmir and announced that the facilities would continue to function after the annual yatra.
More than 4.5 lakh pilgrims paid homage to the cave shrine last year.
