Registration begins, pilgrimage will be bigger than ever before: officials

The registration for the annual yatra to the cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir commenced across the country on Monday while expecting pilgrimage much bigger than ever before the administration of Jammu and Kashmir in consultation with centre has started extensive exercise to ensure conducive environment to the devotees.

The 43-day yatra is scheduled to start on June 30 after the coronavirus pandemic enforced break of two years. The journey will begin from the twin routes — the traditional 48-km from Nunwan to the cave shrine from Pahalgam in south Kashmir’s Anantnag, and 14-km shorter but steep Baltal route in Ganderbal district of central Kashmir.

The government, this year, is also introducing a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system for pilgrims to track their movement en-route to ensure their well-being.

Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), which manages the annual pilgrimage, has designated 566 branches across the country for the registration of the pilgrims, in addition to the facility on its website.

According to SASB, no one below the age of 13 years or above the age of 75 years, and no woman with more than six week’s pregnancy, shall be registered for the yatra.

The registration has started at our branches in Rehari, Katra, Reasi, Akhnoor and Samba in Jammu and Kashmir besides 316 other branches across the country, Deputy General Manager, Punjab National Bank (PNB), Jammu Circle, Yatinder Kumar told reporters at Rehari branch here where several pilgrims registered for the yatra on the first day.

He said the pilgrims have to submit an application, compulsory health certificate from SASB-designated hospitals, four photographs and a fee of Rs.120.

However, those who have registered for the yatra last year, but could not undertake the pilgrimage have to deposit only Rs.20 as fees, the official said, adding that those pilgrims who have crossed 75 years of age would be refunded Rs.100 which have been deposited as registration fee with the application last year after depositing the permit slip.

Kumar said each branch of PNB will register 30 intending pilgrims on a daily basis 15 each for the twin routes of Pahalgam and Baltal.

We are very happy over the restart of the yatra after a gap of two years we are thankful to the government, Ranjeet Singh, a local resident, said.

He said he had already performed the yatra 14 times in the past from both the routes and had never faced any problem.

This time, the shrine board has made additional arrangements and we are eagerly waiting for the day to have darshan’ (glimpse) of the naturally formed ice shivling,” Singh added.

Besides the Punjab National Bank, the registration can also be done at designated branches of Jammu and Kashmir Bank, YES bank and State Bank of India.

Officials further said the registration and issue of yatra permit will be done on a first come-first-serve basis for the yatra, which will commence on June 30 with all Covid protocols in place and will culminate, as per the tradition, on the day of Raksha Bandhan (August 11).

Besides, the arrangements for the 43-day pilgrimage, to be held after a gap of two years due to the Covid pandemic, were discussed at a meeting here chaired by Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry Secretary Apurva Chandra.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Arun Kumar, divisional commissioners of Jammu and Kashmir regions, and deputy commissioners, also took part in the meeting.

Talking to reporters here, Chandra said during the meeting, it was informed that this year’s yatra — scheduled to begin from June 30 — is expected to “be much bigger and better than before”.

“Expectations are that this year’s yatra will be twice the size than ever before. They expect about six to eight lakh pilgrims to visit the cave shrine,” the secretary said.

He said the arrangements for the yatra will also be twice the size than previous years. “Be it drinking water, lodging, or sanitation, the whole administration is equipped to welcome a large number of pilgrims,” Chandra said.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, Nitishwar Kumar, said, “We are expecting a two-fold increase in the yatra this year and similarly, we have also done two-fold preparations to make it successful.”

Chandra, who convened the meeting for the yatra’s publicity, said arrangements will be done for the security of pilgrims. “The nation’s security agencies are on it. The security in Kashmir is good as can be seen by the huge number of tourist arrivals,” Chandra said.

During the meeting, Chandra said activities related to the pilgrimage will be projected throughout the country and focus will also be on showcasing tourism in the region.

“There is a need to highlight the various achievements of the Centre and the Jammu and Kashmir administration with respect to developmental work done in the Union Territory. We need to amplify such positive stories about the region throughout the country. Six to eight lakh pilgrims are expected to cover the yatra this year,” he said.
Chief Secretary Kumar said that this year’s yatra will record the highest numbers because of better facilities.
“The Amarnath Yatra is a prime example of composite culture and fraternity which has been preserved since ages by the cordial working of locals with pilgrims,” he said, adding that the administration has taken every measure to provide better facilities and roadside amenities to make the journey convenient.

Joint Secretary in the ministry, Vikram Sahay, urged media units to carry out wide publicity about the detailed procedures of the yatra, including registration.

He added that there is an absolute need to highlight the positive environment of Jammu and Kashmir which will clear all doubts about the pilgrimage.

This, Sahay said, will invite more and more people from all across the country to become a part of this journey.
Deliberations were also held on amplifying information related to the pilgrimage by N V Reddy, Principal Director General (News), All India Radio, and Mayank Agrawal, Director General, Doordarshan.

“They emphasized that the media units will take initiatives to highlight the developmental work done in J&K at national level and also in regional languages,” the ministry said in a statement.

The shrine board CEO urged media units to highlight the advisories for yatris from time to time and added that Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags will be used this year to keep a track of the location of the pilgrims.
It is pertinent to mention here that the

Amarnath Yatra was cancelled midway in 2019 ahead of abrogation of Article 370 in August that year, while only a symbolic yatra was observed during the past two years due to the outbreak of the pandemic.
During this year’s yatra, SASB has decided to put in place a daily route-wise pilgrims ceiling to 10,000, excluding those travelling by helicopters.

The board has also decided to extend the free-of-cost battery car service for the pilgrims at the 2.75 km-long Baltal to Domel stretch.