The flow of devotees for the Amarnath Yatra showed no signs of slowing down even on the ninth day. On Friday, a total of 18,010 pilgrims visited the holy cave temple, located at an altitude of 3,800 meters in south Kashmir, and had darshan of Baba Barfani (the ice lingam). According to officials, a total of 1,63,726 devotees have visited the ice lingam so far. The devotees included 12,838 men, 4,343 women, 223 children, 141 sadhus, 8 sadhvis, 2 transgender devotees, and 455 security personnel.
This year's Amarnath Yatra began on July 3rd and will continue until August 9th. A record-breaking influx of devotees has been witnessed in the initial days of the Yatra. The enthusiasm of the devotees is at its peak, with chants of "Bam Bam Bhole" echoing throughout the valley.
Boosting Pilgrimage and Tourism
The administration expects the number of devotees in the Amarnath Yatra to set a new record this year. Simultaneously, this Yatra is also significantly boosting tourism in Jammu and Kashmir. The large number of pilgrims arriving from across the country is strengthening local trade, transportation, and tourism services. The atmosphere of devotion in the valley is giving positive signals towards religious tourism.
Security Monitored by High-Tech Control Room
The Amarnath Yatra is considered one of the most challenging pilgrimages in the world, with difficult mountainous routes, changing weather, and security posing major challenges. To overcome these challenges, the Amarnath Shrine Board and the Jammu and Kashmir administration have made special preparations this year. The biggest step has been taken regarding security and disaster management.
The Shrine Board has established a high-tech command control room on the Yatra route this time, which is monitoring every activity 24x7. According to officials, in any emergency situation, this control room will prove helpful in carrying out relief and rescue operations by providing immediate and accurate information.
The Amarnath Yatra is not only a symbol of religious faith but also gives momentum to the social, economic, and cultural activities of the region. The steadily increasing number of devotees, better arrangements, and technical support are playing an important role in making this Yatra safe and successful. The valley, echoing with the chants of Baba Barfani, has now become a confluence of devotion and hopes.
