Jammu, July 1 : Hundreds of devotees gathered at the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatri Niwas in Jammu on Wednesday to complete on-the-spot registration for the annual Amarnath Yatra, which is scheduled to begin on July 3.
Pilgrims from different parts of the country queued up at the registration counters after arriving in the city, while officials oversaw arrangements for registration, accommodation and other facilities.
The on-the-spot registration facility is meant for pilgrims who could not secure permits through the advance registration process conducted at designated bank branches and online.
Many devotees waiting for their registration said they were eager to undertake the pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine for darshan of the naturally formed ice lingam.
Several first-time pilgrims expressed excitement about embarking on the journey, saying they had waited for years for the opportunity to visit the cave shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Others appreciated the arrangements made for the pilgrimage, including the registration process, accommodation and security measures, saying the facilities had enabled pilgrims to prepare for the journey without major inconvenience.
The annual pilgrimage will begin simultaneously from the traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag district and the shorter but steeper 14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal district.
Situated at an altitude of around 3,880 metres in the south Kashmir Himalayas, the cave shrine attracts lakhs of devotees from across the country every year.
The first batch of pilgrims is scheduled to leave the Jammu base camp on Thursday after being flagged off by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.
Meanwhile, security and civil authorities have completed elaborate arrangements along both pilgrimage routes to ensure the smooth conduct of the yatra.
Security personnel have been deployed at base camps, transit points and along the routes, while surveillance systems, checkpoints and convoy protection measures have been put in place.
Mock drills and emergency response exercises have also been conducted in recent days to test preparedness and coordination among various security and rescue agencies.
Authorities have also strengthened medical facilities, sanitation services, accommodation and transport arrangements for the convenience of pilgrims.
The 57-day pilgrimage will conclude on August 28, coinciding with Raksha Bandhan.
Officials have advised pilgrims to follow the issued guidelines, carry valid registration and health certificates, and travel only according to the designated convoy schedule to ensure a safe and orderly pilgrimage.(KNS
