Annual Amarnath Yatra 2026 Kicks Off with Traditional Ceremony

The annual Amarnath Yatra for 2026 officially commenced on Monday with the traditional 'Pratham Puja' at the sacred Amarnath cave temple in Jammu and Kashmir. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha performed rituals for Baba Barfani, wishing for peace, prosperity, good health, and happiness for people across the nation. This auspicious ceremony, held on the occasion of Jyestha Purnima, marks the official preparations for one of India's most revered Hindu pilgrimages. The pilgrimage is set to open for devotees on July 3, 2026.

Following the ceremony, LG Sinha extended an invitation to devotees from both India and abroad to partake in this sacred journey and experience its profound spiritual significance. Emphasizing the administration's commitment to ensuring a smooth pilgrimage, Sinha stated that all stakeholders are collaborating to make the journey safe, comfortable, and memorable. He noted that the administration, the Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board, the army, police, security forces, local communities, service providers, and volunteers are all working together to ensure a hassle-free and spiritually fulfilling experience for every pilgrim. With improved infrastructure, enhanced facilities, and invaluable support from the people of Jammu and Kashmir, we are fully prepared to welcome the pilgrims.

The Shri Amarnath Shrine Board organizes this 57-day pilgrimage annually. The journey will commence simultaneously from two traditional routes: Pahalgam in Anantnag district and Baltal in Ganderbal district. It will begin on July 3, 2026, and conclude on August 28, 2026, coinciding with the festival of Raksha Bandhan. The first group of pilgrims will depart from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu a day earlier. Officials anticipate a significant turnout of devotees visiting the sacred cave temple this year.

As part of the final preparations, officials conducted a rehearsal of a large convoy on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway early Monday morning. This exercise aimed to assess security arrangements, logistics, and coordination among various agencies ahead of the pilgrimage.

Jammu Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar and Jammu Range Inspector General of Police (IGP) Bhim Sen Tuti flagged off the mock convoy from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp around 5 AM. They then boarded a bus to review the arrangements along the route.