Umaisar Gull Ganie
Pahalgam, Aug 2: The authorities have prematurely concluded the Shri Amarnath Yatra 2025, cutting short its duration by a week, due to severe weather conditions and damage to the pilgrimage tracks caused by heavy rains along the Jammu and Kashmir hilly terrain.
Despite the adverse weather, as many as 6,497 pilgrims performed Darshan at the holy cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir Himalayas on August 2, officials said.
They said the yatris included 4,586 males, 1,299 females, 62 children, 51 sadhus, and 5 sadhvis, along with 494 personnel from security forces who also availed the Darshan. With this, the total number of pilgrims who have performed Darshan during the Yatra has now crossed 4,14,311.
Originally scheduled to run from July 3 to August 9, the pilgrimage was set to coincide with Raksha Bandhan. However, this year, the Yatra lasted only 28 days instead of the usual 38.
Officials said that heavy rainfall has severely affected both the Baltal and Pahalgam routes used by pilgrims.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Vijay Kumar Bidhuri, said that due to recent heavy rains and the ongoing track maintenance required along both routes, the yatra has been suspended.
“With the deployment of machinery and personnel on the tracks from tomorrow, resumption is not feasible. The Yatra remains suspended from August 3 onwards on both routes,” the Div Com said.
This year, over 410,000 pilgrims visited the sacred shrine, compared to more than 510,000 last year.
With heightened security concerns this year, a multi-tier security arrangement was put in place, and the presence of security personnel was increased for the Yatra. Besides that, the government declared all routes to the Amarnath cave shrine a “no-flying zone,” banning all kinds of aviation platforms, including drones and balloons, for the duration of the Yatra.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha hailed the number of Amarnath pilgrims crossing the 4 lakh mark as a “miracle”.
He said the record participation of devotees from across the country and the world in the annual Amarnath Yatra stands as a testament to India’s unity and its unwavering resolve to overcome challenges.
The LG thanked the devotees for showing “immense faith” and “strengthening our priceless spiritual heritage”.
The cave shrine situated at 3,888 metres above sea level in the Kashmir Himalayas houses an ice stalagmite structure that wanes and waxes with the phases of the moon.
Devotees believe that the ice stalagmite structure symbolises the mythical powers of Lord Shiva.
While the Shri Amarnath Yatra concludes, devotees continue to arrive for the Baba Budha Amarnath Yatra in Poonch.
Swami Budha Amarnath Mandir is situated at the confluence of two flowing streams – Nallah Gagri and Pulsta Nadi – located between the main belt of the Pir Panchal Range at Rajpura Mandi, approximately 25 km northeast of Poonch city. The temple features four doors and houses a natural Shivlinga inside.
Every year, thousands of devotees from across the country visit Baba Budha Amarnath Mandir during the annual yatra, which takes place before Raksha Bandhan. A grand festival known as the Budha Amarnath Mela is also held at the temple, attracting large crowds and religious fervor.
