Sadhus from throughout the nation have began flocking to the winter capital Jammu to affix the annual Amarnath pilgrimage which is scheduled to start out within the Valley subsequent month.

Over 200 Sadhus, together with girls, have arrived at their conventional Ram Mandir base camp within the outdated metropolis’s Purani Mandi space and are upbeat to supply their prayers on the 3,880-metre excessive holy cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas, housing the naturally fashioned ice-Shivling.

The 62-day lengthy pilgrimage will begin on July 1 from the dual tracks — the normal 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route within the Anantnag district and the 14-km shorter however steep Baltal route within the Ganderbal district. The first batch of pilgrims, together with a gaggle of Sadhus, is leaving for the Yatra from Jammu on June 30.

“I am performing the Yatra for the first time and waiting eagerly to reach Kashmir, the name of which fills our chest with pride as Kashmir to Kanyakumari is India,” a 58-year-old sadhu from Andhra Pradesh, Vasudevanand Sarawari, advised PTI.

The sadhu reached the Ram Temple after conducting ‘Char Dham’, a pilgrimage of 4 holy locations — Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath — by foot.

“I am thankful to my Lord for giving me an opportunity to seek his blessings by joining the Amarnath pilgrimage this year. One should perform the Yatra at least once in the lifetime,” he mentioned amid chants of “Bham Bham Bhole” and “Har Har Mahadev” from his fellow sadhus, staying in small teams inside a big corridor on the temple advanced, in reward of Lord Shiva.

Authorities have beefed up safety throughout Jammu and Kashmir in view of the Yatra from Lakhanpur – the gateway to Jammu and Kashmir bordering Punjab – to the cave shrine together with varied base camps enroute for a peaceable pilgrimage.

“I am satisfied with all the arrangements. I paid my obeisance at Mata Vaishno Devi shrine after reaching here some days back. Jammu and Kashmir is an abode of holy places and we, in Andhra Pradesh, have high esteem for the region,” he mentioned.

Purnima, a resident of Assam, mentioned she has been religiously visiting the cave shrine yearly for over the previous 13 years, barring one 12 months break as a result of Covid-19 pandemic.

“When I was seven-year-old, I was not able to speak or walk and my mother took a pledge to undertake Amarnath Yatra till I am cured. She used to take me to the shrine on her back and after 10 years of pilgrimage, I regained the strength to walk and speak as well,” she mentioned, expressing her pleasure to embark on the Yatra as soon as once more.

Kanchan Chohan, a Sadhvi from Indore, mentioned she had renounced the worldly life and is in search of peace. “This is my first yatra and I will come again and again till my last breath.” Radey Sham Maharaj, the priest on the temple mentioned, to date 207 Sadhus and Sadhvis have reached the Ram Temple for the Yatra.

“Like yesteryears, all arrangements for the devotees for their lodging and boarding at the temple have the capacity to accommodate over 2,000 Sadhus,” he mentioned.

“Besides food and shelter, medical facilities and proper sanitation will be ensured in active coordination with the district administration so that there is no inconvenience to the sadhus,” the priest mentioned.

He mentioned coolers and air conditioners can be found in good numbers to assist the sadhus to beat the warmth.

“The registration counter will be opened (by the authorities) on June 30 to facilitate the sadhus,” he mentioned.

Many of the sadhus have already carried out the Yatra many occasions and mentioned they are going to pray for eternal peace whereas paying obeisance on the shrine.

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