A comprehensive overview of Shri Amarnathji Yatra

SRINAGAR, JULY 02: Traditionally the Holy Cave of Shri Amarnathji has been mobilizing devotees from all the corners of the country as well as from around the world. This annual spiritual journey of believers of Hindu faith to the Holy Cave besides having a religious and historical importance also testifies to the flourishing cultural ecosystem of the country which fosters the relations between people of diverse cultures.

The confluence of people of different regions, languages & cultures during the yatra is enriching social fabric through mutual interaction and exchange of values, ideas and thoughts.

Apart from social impact, this two month-long journey of Shri Amarnathji Yatra has been pivotal in leveraging the economic growth and prosperity of the region and generates income for lakhs of service providers including transporters, poniwalas, pithuwalas, dandiwalas, traders, shopkeepers, hoteliers, artisans, vendors and many other unorganized workers.

Underlining the religious and economic importance of Yatra, the Administration of UT of J&K has orchestrated well knitted and efficient facilities at each station or camp where pilgrims stay put during their journey to the Holy Cave.

The Administration consistently upgraded the facilities over the years to ensure comfortable experience and convenience for yatris by manifesting qualitative accommodation, health facilities, deputation of expert medical staff, glitch-less telecommunication service, langar facilities, sanitation services besides trained NDRF & SDRF staff to extend assistance to weak, elderly and female pilgrims while trekking the mountainous terrain.

Starting from the registration, the Administration has created an online facility for advance registration while also establishing registration counters at base camps for those pilgrims who had not previously registered. The pilgrims are being provided RFID cards to keep track of them for their security and safety besides proper management of the influx of pilgrims from place to place.

To monitor all the logistics, weather conditions, activities along both axis of Holy Cave, a surveillance system has been set up at ICCC, HMT where over fifty officials from all departments have been deputed for round the clock duty for real time assistance to the yatris and staff on the ground.

Besides, a Hunting Line number 01942740003 has been created at ICCC for help during the exigency of any disaster. In addition to this, two more landlines 01942496240 & 01942496247 are also functional at the centre.

The accommodation capacity of various transit camps/base camps have also been upgraded to host more visitors thereby raising the cumulative capacity of all camps in view of expectations of influx of huge numbers of pilgrims who would pay obeisance at Cave as the previous year’s successful yatra created an overwhelming sentiment across the country and abroad.

Augmentation of accommodation also led to the up-gradation of allied infrastructure including toilet complexes, bathing stations, roads, treks etc

Like every other important convenience, sanitation plays a vital role in ensuring cleanliness for maintaining a healthy environment at all places of yatra. In five districts which lie along the yatra axis including Anantnag, Ganderbal, Srinagar, Bandipora and Kulgam, this year more sanitation workers have been detailed with the responsibility of regular cleanliness and sanitation.

Similarly, services of thousands of Poniwalas, Palkiwalas, Pithuwalas and others have been procured by the Labour department & Animal Husbandry department for smooth conduct of Shri Amarnathji Yatra.

To ensure quality health facilities, Health officers and officials including Specialists, Medical Officers and Paramedics have been deployed by the government besides establishing a network of health infrastructure through base hospitals, MACs, EACs, Oxygen Booths, clinical beds and critical ambulances.

An elderly female pilgrim while comparing the services offered at the camps to the services offered in the private sector expressed her appreciation for the Administration and said that optimum facilities are given to yatries by all departments and agencies.

Shri Amarnathji yatra is one of the largest religious pilgrimages of the country, whose success does not just lie with the government only, but the cooperation and support of local population has been imperative at multiple fronts.

The importance of Yatra has been recognized by everyone particularly by the locals who have been welcoming pilgrims traditionally and this year again the people of J&K have expressed their overwhelming support to yatra.

Welcoming the Amarnath Yatris, the Greater Aishmuqam Sufi Society (GASS) Friday termed it as a divine opportunity to celebrate the syncretic bonhomie rooted deep in the traditions.