The 57-day Amarnath pilgrimage starts from July 3; registration starts from April 15

New Delhi: The annual pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir will begin on July 3 and end on August 28, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has announced that this year’s pilgrimage will last for 57 days.The schedule was finalized at a meeting of Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board (SASB) chaired by Sinha. He told reporters that the pilgrimage would end with the holy month of Ramadan. “The pilgrimage will begin on July 3 and end with Rakshabandhan on August 28… will last for 57 days. Pratham Puja will be held on Jyeshtha Purnima,” he said.Registration for the Yatra will begin on April 15 and is mandatory. Pilgrims between the ages of 13 and 70 will be eligible for the journey. Advance registration will be conducted both online and offline, with facilities available at over 550 designated bank branches across the country, including Jammu and Kashmir Bank, State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank and Yes Bank.Sinha said there has been a steady increase in the number of participants in the pilgrimage in recent years, indicating improvements in infrastructure and facilities. To improve security, RFID cards will be made compulsory for all pilgrims and group accident insurance has been doubled from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.He also outlined key infrastructure upgrades, including widening tracks along the Baltal and Nouwan routes, improving bridges and strengthening disaster response systems through the deployment of mountain rescue teams and security personnel.The pilgrimage will be conducted along the traditional 48-km-long Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag district and the shorter but steeper 14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal district, and authorities are preparing for a large number of devotees to participate in the pilgrimage this year.