Amarnath Yatra 2022 to begin from June 30, registration begins

This year’s annual Amarnath yatra, which will begin from June 30, is expected to be “much bigger” than before, with the administration preparing to welcome about eight lakh pilgrims to the cave shrine in south Kashmir.

The arrangements for the yatra, to be held after a gap of two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, were discussed at a meeting, chaired by Union Information and Broadcasting ministry secretary Apurva Chandra, in Srinagar.

Jammu and Kashmir chief secretary Arun Kumar, divisional commissioners of Jammu and Kashmir regions, and Deputy Commissioners, participated also took part in the meeting.

“Expectations are that this year’s yatra will be twice the size than ever before. They expect about six to eight lakh pilgrims to visit the cave shrine,” Chandra said, adding that the arrangements for the yatra will also be “twice the size than previous year’s yatra”.

“Be it the drinking water, lodging, or sanitation, the whole administration is equipped to welcome a large number of pilgrims,” Chandra said.

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Chandra said that all the arrangements will be done for the security of the pilgrims.

“The nations security agencies are on it. The security in Kashmir is good as can be seen by the huge number of tourist arrivals,” Chandra said.

The registration for the annual pilgrimage to the cave shrine of Amarnath commenced across the country on Monday. Pilgrims can either register online through the website or mobile app of the shrine board. The Yatra is set to continue till August 11.

The yatra could not be held in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2019, the yatra was cut short days before August 5, when the Centre abrogated Article 370.

(With inputs from Agencies)