The Amarnath Yatra, briefly halted by rain and rough weather, has resumed from the Baltal base camp, with pilgrims once again setting off with unshaken devotion. The first big batch of devotees moved towards the holy cave chanting Bum Bum Bhole, their spirits visibly undimmed by the earlier disruption in the journey. Officials said more than 10,000 pilgrims will push ahead from Baltal to have darshan of the naturally formed Shivling inside the cave, and are expected to be back at the base camp by this evening.
A tough 16 kilometre climb that couldn't dent the spirit
Despite the recent stretch of bad weather and the rugged, uneven terrain on the way, the difficult 16 kilometre route from Baltal to the holy cave failed to slow down the pilgrims or dampen their enthusiasm. A number of devotees paused along the climb to offer prayers and carry out religious rituals, drawing fresh energy from the journey as they pressed forward for a glimpse of Baba Barfani. Neither the weather's punishing turns nor the demanding path could hold back the crowds moving steadily upward.
The chants never stopped, says a pilgrim
A pilgrim who had begun the trek early in the morning said, "At every halt, we could hear chants and prayers; people's enthusiasm hasn't dipped." Yatra officials and security agencies kept a tight vigil along the entire stretch, working to ensure the safety of pilgrims and keep their movement smooth through the difficult sections of the trail.
Around 10,000 more head out via the Pahalgam route
Alongside the movement from Baltal, authorities also allowed close to 10,000 pilgrims to proceed via the traditional Pahalgam route. Officials said devotees taking this route will have to cover a longer journey of around 42 kilometres, and are expected to complete their pilgrimage and return to Pahalgam within a day or two.
Shrine board keeps close watch on weather, emergency teams on standby
The Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, working in coordination with the local administration and security forces, is closely tracking the weather forecast and the condition of both routes. Medical teams, emergency shelters and rescue squads have all been kept on standby, ready to respond without delay to any weather related or health emergency that may arise during the climb.
A yearly meeting of hardship and faith
This annual summer pilgrimage in Kashmir has always stood at the meeting point of physical hardship and deep spiritual devotion, drawing devotees who are willing to brave difficult terrain for a moment of darshan. The larger turnout of pilgrims this year, even as bad weather forced a temporary halt, reflects the unwavering resolve of devotees determined to reach the cave despite the tough conditions on the ground.
