Anantnag, Jun 25: Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha on Thursday said the annual Amarnath Yatra, apart from its religious, historical, cultural, and spiritual significance, has emerged as a symbol of societal unity and strengthened harmony and mutual trust among people.
Addressing the concluding session of a two-day international seminar, ‘The Sacred Journey to Shri Amarnath Ji: A Multi-Dimensional Perspective,’ at Government Degree College for Women, Anantnag, LG Sinha said the yatra’s importance extends beyond faith and devotion.
“Apart from religious faith and devotional importance, Amarnath Yatra stands as a symbol of societal unity,” he said.
The LG said the annual yatra had historical, cultural, and spiritual importance and fosters “brotherhood, harmony, and mutual trust.”
Describing the yatra as an example of Kashmir’s syncretic culture, he said local communities had remained closely associated with the yatra for decades and continue to play a key role in facilitating it.
“The people of Kashmir have been shouldering the responsibility of this spiritual journey for decades. Even now they are eagerly waiting to welcome the yatris and serve them to the best,” LG Sinha said.
He said the participation of local residents and service providers, irrespective of faith, remains one of the defining features of the pilgrimage.
“The yatra has helped preserve Kashmir’s multi-faith and pluralistic traditions while strengthening bonds among communities,” the LG said.
The seminar, organised by the district administration, in collaboration with Government Degree College for Women, Anantnag, stressed on the religious, historical, cultural, and spiritual significance of the pilgrimage, in addition to its administrative, socioeconomic, and ecological dimensions.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) Anantnag Bilal Mohi-ud-Din said more than 300 delegates participated in the conference and around 80 experts presented papers on various aspects of the annual yatra.
Earlier, LG Sinha chaired a high-level review meeting at Pahalgam, one of the two base camps for the yatra, to assess preparedness ahead of its commencement on July 3.
After the meeting, he said officers from all departments, including security agencies, reviewed the arrangements and expressed satisfaction over the preparedness.
“Today’s meeting was attended by officers from all departments, including security agencies. I am confident that all arrangements have been made in a very proper manner,” he told reporters.
The LG said all necessary measures had been put in place to ensure a smooth and spiritually fulfilling pilgrimage.
The 52-day Amarnath Yatra will begin on July 3 and conclude on August 23, coinciding with Raksha Bandhan.
Yatris can undertake the yatra through the traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag district or the shorter 14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal district.
LG REVIEWS AMARNATH YATRA PREPARATIONS AT PAHALGAM
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday chaired a high-level meeting at Pahalgam and reviewed the preparations for the AmarnathYatra.
LG Sinha held a comprehensive review of all key sectors, including logistics, lodging, healthcare facilities, sanitation, power and water supply, availability of civic amenities, road connectivity, RFID cards, functioning on joint control rooms, track maintenance and widening works, construction of footbridges, setting up of langars, creation of holding areas, traffic management, and security arrangements.
He directed all departments to ensure seamless arrangements, foolproof security, and a memorable experience for the yatris.
The LG emphasised comprehensive security and disaster management planning for the smooth and safe conduct of the yatra.
“Management of the yatra requires a comprehensive, hybrid planning approach with an absolute zero-tolerance policy for operational lapses. Operations must aggressively mitigate the risks associated with high altitudes, harsh weather, and extreme crowd density. To ensure safety, weather-based evacuation protocols must be established alongside the strategic deployment of Mountain Response Teams (MRTs) at critical intervals. Furthermore, all transit tents must pass rigorous quality inspections and be equipped with functional fire extinguishers. On the tracks, real-time crowd analysis must be utilized to identify and clear choke points, while robust traffic management plans and designated parking zones must be enforced to prevent congestion and guarantee the uninterrupted transportation of essential supplies,” he directed the officials.
LG Sinha instructed all concerned departments and agencies to ensure synergy and close coordination for timely completion of works and better delivery of services.
He directed the BRO to complete all the allotted works before the yatra.
The LG directed officials to conduct regular work monitoring and on-ground inspections to resolve gaps immediately.
Additionally, he emphasised that transit camps and halt points must have trained manpower, along with reliable water and power supplies, to ensure the convenience of both pilgrims and service providers.
Deputy Commissioner Anantnag briefed the meeting on the overall preparations being made for the smooth and hassle-free conduct of the annual pilgrimage.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Anantnag, delivered a detailed presentation on the multi-layered security framework and the comprehensive measures in place to ensure pilgrim safety along the entire route.
The meeting was attended by Mandeep K Bhandari, Principal Secretary to Lieutenant Governor and CEO Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board; Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, Commissioner Secretary, Youth Services and Sports Department and Nodal Officer for Pahalgam Axis; Anshul Garg, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir; V K Birdi, IGP Kashmir; M SulemanChoudhary, IGP Traffic J&K; Bilal Mohiuddin Bhat, Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag; AmodNagpure Ashok, SSP Anantnag and senior officers of civil administration, police and security forces.
Later, speaking to media persons, LG Sinha said: “The Jammu Kashmir administration, Police, security forces, Government of India, and the SASB have finalised all preparations to ensure a safe and spiritually enriching experience for the devotees of Baba Amarnath. Local residents and all stakeholders are eager to welcome pilgrims arriving from across the nation.”
