Amarnath Yatra Suspension Advanced, Lower Turnout Cited
Amarnath yatra will be suspended from next Wednesday, a week before the annual pilgrimage was meant to be concluded. The decision was taken due to fewer arrivals of yatris, an official spokesman said.
The Amarnath Yatra, the annual pilgrimage to the holy cave, is set to be halted a week ahead of schedule, beginning from next Wednesday. The decision stems from a significant decrease in the number of yatris (pilgrims) arriving, according to an official spokesperson.
Chaired by Jammu and Kashmir's Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, the shrine board oversaw this decision. Despite accommodating over 400,000 pilgrims this year, officials had anticipated higher participation, taking into account the logistical and security arrangements made for the pilgrimage.
Over recent years, the Amarnath Yatra has observed diminishing footfalls. From over 600,000 pilgrims in 2012, the number gradually declined to over 300,000 in 2022 and reached 440,000 this year.
This year's yatra possessed the most expansive duration, spanning 62 days. However, pilgrim numbers dwindled after just two weeks into the pilgrimage.
Despite the curtailed yatra, officials announced that the holy mace (Cahari Mubarak) would be carried to the cave shrine on August 31, symbolizing the culmination of the yatra.
An official spokesperson remarked, "The yatra will temporarily suspend from August 23 due to decreased pilgrim flow and ongoing track restoration work." Consequently, pilgrims will be prohibited from undertaking the yatra starting from Wednesday.
The government had orchestrated substantial security arrangements for the yatra, with over 300 additional paramilitary force companies deployed in addition to the existing security structure in the Kashmir Valley.
Each yatri was assigned a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag over the last two years, as a security measure to monitor their movement. While security remains vital, many voices argue that it should not overshadow the yatra's significance as a representation of Kashmir's rich syncretic culture.
Once an avenue for cultural and social integration, the yatra now necessitates security convoys and entails the prohibition of vehicle movement when yatra convoys pass.
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