Devotees will have the opportunity to visit Baba Barfani on Saturday by chanting Bam-Bam Bhole. The initial group of pilgrims has departed for the sacred Amarnath cave from Baltal. On Friday morning, 4603 devotees journeyed to Kashmir from Jammu under strict security measures.
They chanted Bam-Bam Bhole and Jai Baba Barfani as they arrived at the Baltal and Pahalgam base camps late in the evening via the Navyug tunnel of Qazigund. Previously, the first group was greeted at the Kali Mata Temple in Tikri, Udhampur, sparking great enthusiasm among Shiva devotees nationwide.
The inaugural group was sent off by Shri Amarnath Shrine Board Chairman and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at 5:25 am on Friday from the Bhagwati Nagar Jammu base camp. The send-off included sadhus, saints, and pilgrims. The LG extended well wishes for a secure, blessed, and spiritually fulfilling journey, emphasizing that Baba Amarnath's blessings bring peace, happiness, and prosperity to all.
The event was attended by BJP leader Devendra Singh Rana, former Mayor Rajendra Singh, Mahant Rameshwar Das, public representatives of religious organizations, civil administration, police, security forces, senior officials of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, dignitaries, and numerous devotees. For security purposes, all pilgrims are required to have a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) card. Without it, pilgrims are not permitted to proceed.
The distance to the holy cave is 32 km from the Nunwan route of Pahalgam in South Kashmir and 14 km from the Baltal route of Ganderbal in Central Kashmir. Pilgrims using the Baltal route typically return after darshan on the same day. The Yatra route welcomed pilgrims warmly at Baltal and Pahalgam Nunwan base camps, where devotees filled the atmosphere with Shiva bhajans. This year's yatra will span 52 days, allowing devotees to have darshan of Baba Barfani until August 19th.
