NEW DELHI– In a remarkable display of cross-cultural devotion, nine young pilgrims from six countries—including the United States, Germany, and Canada—undertook the sacred Amarnath Yatra this week, joining thousands of Indian devotees on the challenging pilgrimage through the Himalayas.
The Department of Information & Public Relations, Jammu and Kashmir, shared the news on social media platform X, highlighting the international presence as “a beautiful blend of global faith and spiritual harmony in the Himalayas.” The group completed the yatra via the Baltal route, one of two main pathways to the revered cave shrine of Shri Amarnathji.
One Canadian devotee described the journey as deeply transformative. “The moment I stepped into the Amarnath cave, I was in tears — there was a deep sense of peace,” he said. “This cave is special — it’s where Lord Shiv revealed the secret of immortality to Parvati. The trek was tough but absolutely worth it. I urge everyone, regardless of where they are from, to experience this once in a lifetime.”
Another international pilgrim expressed gratitude for the warm reception and safe environment, saying, “We felt supported and spiritually uplifted. We will definitely return.”
This year’s Amarnath Yatra, which began on July 3, has drawn unprecedented participation. Officials report that over 3.42 lakh pilgrims have performed darshan in the past 21 days, with numbers expected to surpass 3.50 lakh on Thursday—well ahead of the official projection. On Thursday morning, a new batch of 3,500 pilgrims departed Jammu for the two main base camps at Baltal and Pahalgam.
“The first escorted convoy of 45 vehicles carrying 832 yatris left for Baltal base camp at 3:25 a.m., followed by a second convoy of 95 vehicles with 2,668 yatris to Pahalgam at 4:01 a.m.,” an official stated.
The spiritual journey is set to culminate on August 9 when the sacred Chhari Mubarak (the Holy Mace of Lord Shiva) reaches the cave shrine. The Bhumi Pujan of the Chhari was performed in Pahalgam on July 10, and the final procession will depart from Dashnami Akhara temple in Srinagar on August 4.
Despite heightened security concerns following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives, authorities have ensured robust multi-tier protection for this year’s Yatra. The peaceful and well-organized pilgrimage has encouraged a record turnout and renewed global interest in the sacred tradition. (Source: IANS)
