Registrations for the 52-day long upcoming annual Amarnath Yatra started yesterday. Our Correspondent reports that pilgrims can register online via the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board website, jksasb.nic.in. Registrations can also be done at over 540 authorized bank branches across the country and designated centers such as Panchayat Bhawan, Vaishnavi Dham, and Mahajan Hall. Registration is mandatory for all pilgrims, and a Compulsory Health Certificate (CHC), issued by an authorised medical body, is required to confirm fitness for the high-altitude trek.
To manage the number of participants, only about 15 thousand yatris will be allowed per day. The registration fee for each pilgrim is 220 rupees. A Radio Frequency Identification, or RFID card, is mandatory for all pilgrims. The Yatra will commence on July 3 this year from the Pahalgam track inthe Anantnag district and the Baltal route in the Ganderbal district. The Yatra will culminate on August 9 on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan.
The dates for the yatra
were announced by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on March 5 during the 48th Board meeting of the Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board (SASB) at Raj Bhawan. The board proposed various measures and interventions to further improve the facilities and services for the devotees. Considering the likely increased inflow of pilgrims for Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra-2025, the meeting discussed measures for enhancing lodgement capacity at centres in Jammu, Srinagar, and other locations, operationalising Yatri facilitation centres for e-KYC, issuing RFID cards, and on-spot registration of pilgrims at a number of locations, including Nowgam and Katra Railway Stations.
These facilities must also be suitably enhanced at Baltal, Pahalgam, Nunwan, and Pantha Chowk Srinagar, as per the requirements. Reviewing the progress achieved on various ongoing works undertaken by the line departments, the LG stressed the need to ensure adequate arrangements and requisite amenities at various locations en route to the Yatra.