As Amarnath Yatra Kicks Off In Rain, PM Modi Asks Pilgrims To Take Five Pledges

The Amarnath Yatra began amid rain with batches departing from the Baltal and Pahalgam base camps, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote a letter urging pilgrims to take five pledges, from cleanliness to Vocal for Local.

The Amarnath Yatra, the annual pilgrimage to the shrine of Baba Barfani in Jammu and Kashmir, has begun, with batches of pilgrims setting off from both the Baltal and Pahalgam base camps amid rain. More than 10,000 pilgrims left in the first batch from the Baltal base camp. Devotees travelling via the Baltal route are expected to have darshan of Baba Barfani inside the holy cave by this evening, while those taking the Pahalgam route will get to see the shrine only by the afternoon of the following day. The yatra will continue until August 28. As the pilgrimage got underway, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote a letter addressed to all Amarnath pilgrims, urging them to take five specific pledges during the journey.

What PM Modi wrote in his letter
In his letter, PM Modi greeted every pilgrim with Har Har Mahadev, Jai Baba Barfani and said that taking part in the sacred Amarnath Yatra in Jammu and Kashmir is, in itself, a matter of great fortune. He noted that the sequence of darshan for devotees begins with the first puja performed on Jyeshtha Purnima. According to the letter, pilgrims from every corner of the country remain eager to join this holy journey each year, and the opportunity for a direct darshan of Baba Barfani turns into an extremely auspicious and unforgettable experience for lakhs of Shiva devotees every year. PM Modi extended his warm wishes to all the Shiva devotees undertaking the yatra this year.

He further wrote that the journey to Baba Amarnath's shrine is an eternal chapter in India's tradition of spiritual pilgrimage. Every year, lakhs of devotees who follow Sanatan culture from across the world arrive in Jammu and Kashmir to take part in this yatra. People from different states, speaking different languages and following diverse traditions, complete this journey with a shared resolve to have darshan of Mahadev. PM Modi added that for several decades now, the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board and the Jammu and Kashmir government have been managing the yatra with great efficiency and a spirit of service, and that the administration and security forces also play a major role in ensuring the pilgrimage is completed safely. This year too, thousands of personnel are carrying out this responsibility.

Praise for Jammu and Kashmir's hospitality and spirit of service
In the letter, PM Modi thanked, from the heart, the Indian Army, the CRPF, Jammu and Kashmir Police, the ITBP, the BSF, the NDRF, doctors and staff associated with health services, administrative officials, sanitation workers, and everyone else engaged in serving the pilgrims. He wrote that over the roughly two months the yatra runs, the sacred abode of Baba Barfani becomes a striking display of unity in India's diversity. The journey, he said, also reflects the hospitality of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and the devotion of pilgrims arriving from across the country. During every phase of the yatra, thousands of local residents of Jammu and Kashmir warmly welcome the pilgrims, while countless devotees from different parts of the country run bhandaras and langars along the holy cave and the pilgrimage routes. PM Modi described this spirit of selfless service as a living expression of India's Sanatan culture and the ideal of Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah.

PM Modi's five pledges for pilgrims
In the letter, PM Modi urged every pilgrim undertaking the Amarnath Yatra this year to take up five pledges:

• First pledge: Follow cleanliness rules during the yatra and contribute to keeping the entire pilgrimage route clean.
• Second pledge: Comply fully and faithfully with all administrative orders, traffic rules and security related instructions, while taking special care of slippery paths and cold conditions caused by rain during the journey.
• Third pledge: In the spirit of Vocal for Local, spend at least 10 percent of the total yatra expenditure on purchasing local products, which will strengthen the livelihoods of families and youth in Jammu and Kashmir.
• Fourth pledge: On the concluding day of the Amarnath Yatra, which falls on Raksha Bandhan, gift a plant to one's brother or sister, furthering the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign.
• Fifth pledge: Carry out one's duties honestly through the year in the spirit of Nation First and make an active contribution towards building a developed India.

PM Modi's closing message
Towards the end of the letter, PM Modi expressed confidence that the pilgrimage to Baba Amarnath would conclude as a grand celebration of faith in Sanatan Dharma, India's cultural unity and its tradition of service. He wished that Baba Amarnath's boundless blessings remain with all the pilgrims, that the journey be safe and auspicious, and that it bring new energy, new consciousness and new spiritual strength into everyone's life. He added that he hoped Baba Barfani would make everyone more devoted to their duties, so that together the resolve for a developed India could be fulfilled. PM Modi closed the letter with his heartfelt wishes to all pilgrims setting out on the Amarnath Yatra.

What this means for you
• Across India: Shiva devotees travelling from across the country will get the chance to have darshan of Baba Barfani until August 28, and PM Modi's appeal could push pilgrims to spend a share of their yatra budget on local products.
• In Jammu and Kashmir: Shopkeepers, guides, palanquin and mule operators around Baltal and Pahalgam stand to gain direct income over the roughly two month long yatra, while heavy security and administrative arrangements will also affect local movement in the region.

Questions & Answers

1. When did the Amarnath Yatra start and how long will it run?
The yatra began amid rain and will continue until August 28.

2. How many pilgrims left in the first batch?
More than 10,000 pilgrims left in the first batch from the Baltal base camp.

3. When will pilgrims on the Baltal and Pahalgam routes get darshan?
Pilgrims on the Baltal route will have darshan of Baba Barfani by this evening, while those on the Pahalgam route will get darshan only by the afternoon of the following day.

4. What are the five pledges PM Modi asked pilgrims to take?
He asked pilgrims to maintain cleanliness, follow administrative and security instructions, spend 10 percent of their yatra expenditure on local products, gift a plant on Raksha Bandhan, and carry out their duties in the spirit of Nation First.

5. Who manages the Amarnath Yatra?
The Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board and the Jammu and Kashmir government manage the yatra, while the Army, CRPF, Jammu and Kashmir Police, ITBP, BSF and NDRF handle security.

6. What did PM Modi say about the Vocal for Local pledge?
He asked pilgrims to spend at least 10 percent of their yatra expenditure on local products so that the livelihoods of families and youth in Jammu and Kashmir are strengthened.

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