Amarnath Yatra Suspended From Jammu Today Due To Heavy Rain; Baltal Route Only From Friday
Officials stated that, in view of the inclement weather conditions on the Yatra routes, as an abundance of caution, the ongoing yatra convoy will not move from Bhagwati Nagar, Jammu, on this day.
'Due to the heavy rains over in the Yatra area, the movement of pilgrims from the Base camps has been affected. Therefore, it has been decided that no convoy movement shall be allowed towards the base camps Baltal and Nunwan from Bhagwati Nagar, Jammu on 31st July, 2025. Pilgrims shall be kept informed about the situation in due course of time," Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Ramesh Kumar said.
So far, over 3.93 lakh pilgrims have paid obeisance at the Holy Cave Shrine during the Shri Amarnathji Yatra 2025. However, in view of maintenance works required to be carried out on the Pahalgam Axis of the yatra route following the recent rainfall, the yatra will continue only through the Baltal Axis from Friday.
"Due to the recent heavy rains, urgent repair and maintenance works are required to be carried out on the Pahalgam Axis of the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra route. The Yatra shall continue from the Baltal axis from 1st August onwards", the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri said.
Notably, the yatra from both the base camps (Baltal and Chandanwari/ Nunwan) was suspended due to heavy rain on July 30.
So far, more than 3.93 lakh yatris have paid obeisance at the Holy Cave of Shri Amarnathji this year. This year's Yatra started on July 3 and will end on August 9, coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan festivals.
The 'Chhari Mubarak' (Lord Shiva's Mace) will start its journey from Amareshwar Temple in Dashnami Akhara building in Srinagar towards the holy cave shrine on August 4 and will reach its destination on August 9 in the morning.
The cave shrine situated 3888 metres above sea level 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.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Print
2 days ago
- The Print
JK: Chhari Mubarak carried to Amarnath cave shrine for prayers
Special prayers led by Mahant Deependra Giri, the custodian of the holy mace, were held at the holy cave shrine, the officials said. They said that after a night's halt, the Chhari Mubarak left Panchtarani camp in the morning on the occasion of 'Sharavan Purnima'. Traditional 'puja' and rituals were performed amid the chanting of Vedic hymns. Srinagar, Aug 9 (PTI) Chhari Mubarak, the saffron-robed holy mace of Lord Shiva, was Saturday carried to the Amarnath holy cave shrine for traditional prayers and rituals, marking the ceremonial conclusion of the annual pilgrimage, officials said. After the 'aarti' was concluded, the holy mace left for Panchtarani for a night halt. On Sunday, the Chhari Mubarak will leave for Pahalgam where 'pujan' and 'visarjan' ceremonies will be held on Monday on the banks of river Lidder. More than 4.14 lakh pilgrims performed the annual Amarnath Yatra this year as the pilgrimage was concluded on August 2 in the wake of bad weather and slippery route conditions. Last year, 5.10 lakh yatris had 'darshan' of the naturally formed 'ice lingam' at the holy cave shrine in the south Kashmir Himalayas. PTI SSB MNK MNK This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
India.com
2 days ago
- India.com
Amarnath Yatra 2025 Concludes With Chhari Mubarak Ritual Amid Tight Security
The pilgrimage began on July 3, 2025, and lasted 38 days, ending on August 9, 2025, coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan. The holy mace, symbolising Lord Shiva, is carried by Mahant Deependra Giri, the custodian of the Chhari Mubarak. The journey of the mace started from the Amareshwar Temple in Srinagar on August 4, 2025, and reached the Amarnath cave on August 9 for the final rituals, marking the official end of the Yatra. This year, despite the Pahalgam terror attack, over 4.1 lakh Lord Shiva devotees paid obeisance at the holy cave in South Kashmir, where the naturally formed ice lingam can be seen, which is revered as a representation of Lord Shiv. The pilgrimage was undertaken from both routes: the 48-km traditional Pahalgam route and the 14-km Baltal route. However, from August 3, 2025, the pilgrimage was suspended for devotees due to heavy rainfall, which necessitated urgent repairs on the tracks of both routes to ensure safety. Despite this, the Chhari Mubarak procession continued as per tradition to conclude the Yatra. The Chhari Mubarak, accompanied by sadhus and devotees, is a central element of the Yatra's culmination. The mace is carried in a ceremonial procession, with stops at various points for rituals before reaching the cave for the final worship on Shravan Purnima. The Amarnath cave is one of the holiest shrines in Hinduism, where the ice lingam forms naturally. The pilgrimage is undertaken annually during the Shravana month, attracting devotees from across India and beyond. This year, due to the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed by terrorists, extensive security measures were put in place. Around one lakh personnel from the Jammu and Kashmir Police, CRPF, ITBP, and other agencies were deployed to ensure pilgrim safety. Advanced technologies like FRS, CCTV cameras, and drones were used for surveillance. The Yatra is not only a religious event but also provides a significant boost to the economy and promotes pilgrimage tourism in Jammu and Kashmir.
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- New Indian Express
Langar body slams premature end of Amarnath Yatra, calls it denial of worship rights, demands SASB apology
SRINAGAR: With authorities suspending the annual Amarnath Yatra a week before its scheduled conclusion, the Shri Amarnath Barfani Langars Organisation (SABLO), the apex body representing various Bhandara (langar) groups serving free food to pilgrims during the pilgrimage, has objected to the early closure, saying the 'arbitrary stoppage amounts to a denial of the fundamental right to worship and is a violation of spiritual customs and traditions associated with the Yatra.' The 38-day Amarnath Yatra, which began on 3 July, was scheduled to end on 9 August on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. However, authorities closed the pilgrimage a week earlier, citing adverse weather conditions and their impact on the Yatra. On 2 August, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Vijay Kumar Bidhuri stated that due to recent heavy rainfall and the need for track maintenance along both the Baltal and Pahalgam routes to the Amarnath cave, the Yatra movement had been halted on both tracks from 3 August. SABLO General Secretary H K Chugh told this newspaper that for the last five years, authorities have been closing the Yatra before its scheduled time. He said around four lakh yatris had visited the Amarnath cave shrine in 30 days up to 2 August. 'About 15,000–20,000 yatris were visiting the cave shrine every day, and if it had not been suspended, the number could have exceeded 5.50 lakh this year,' he said. SABLO president Rajan Gupta said such arbitrary stoppage of the Yatra was unheard of until 2019. 'Even during peak militancy, the Yatra concluded only on its due date. From 2019 onwards, this new trend of pre-closure has emerged and persisted, barring two years (2020 and 2021) when the Yatra was suspended due to Covid-19,' he said. According to Gupta, the early closure has led to growing resentment and erosion of faith among stakeholders, as the legitimate expectations of devotees are being shattered. He emphasised that the disappointment was not just emotional but also logistical and financial.
