July 28, 2025: In the midst of stringent security measures, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off the first group of over 1,000 pilgrims from Jammu on Monday, kicking off the Budha Amarnath pilgrimage in the Poonch border district of Jammu and Kashmir. Sinha expressed the hope that a large number of pilgrims would pay homage to Lord Shiva at the Budha Amarnath temple in Poonch. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad started the 12-day pilgrimage to Budha Amarnath, a Himalayan temple in the Poonch district, in 2005. It will end on August 7. “As you can see, today from here, more than 1,000 pilgrims left for the Budha Amarnath Yatra. This holy journey is being shared by pilgrims who have arrived from all over the country. The yatra has been well-organized by the Jammu and Kashmir government. To guarantee their safety, security measures have been put in place. The Budha Amarnath Yatra's facilities have improved, Sinha told reporters shortly after the yatra was flagged off. He wished each and every one of the pilgrims a safe and spiritually enriching journey. "It is an enlightening experience to make the sacred journey to Mahadev's residence. Sinha stated, "I strongly believe this pilgrimage is the greatest alchemy and reveals life's secrets to the devotees." He appreciated the meticulous work done by Baba Amarnath and Budha Amarnath Yatri Nyas, tourism department, district administration, other stakeholders and organisations serving langar.
He stated that every arrangement has been made for the annual festival and pilgrimage to Budha Amarnath Ji Mela. In addition, he noted that the Amarnath Yatra had been completed by more than 3.77 lakh devotees thus far and thanked the Jammu and Kashmir administration for its "dedicated efforts" to ensure devotees' comfort. He stated, "I hope a large number of pilgrims from across the country will come to Budha Amarnath and pray to Lord Shiva for the prosperity of themselves, the nation, and Jammu and Kashmir." He was referring to the pilgrimage site. One of the oldest shrines in the Jammu region, the Budha Amarnath temple, which is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is in the Rajpura village of Poonch's Mandi tehsil, attracts a large number of devotees during the yatra. The pilgrimage concludes with the arrival of the Charri Mubarak (holy mace) at the shrine from Dashnami Akhara, Poonch.
Pilgrims typically take a dip in the sacred Pulsata river just outside the temple before entering. Every year, thousands of devotees make the yatra to honor Lord Shiva at this adored shrine. Jammu, Poonch, and Rajouri border districts have increased security for the annual yatra, which is scheduled to end on August 7. According to officials, security forces and police maintained a high level of alertness prior to the yatra by carrying out extensive combing operations along the route and in the hinterlands of Rajouri, Poonch, and Jammu districts. According to officials, strict security measures, such as CCTV surveillance and area dominance, have been implemented in and around the temple in Mandi to guarantee a peaceful and incident-free yatra. The administration is in charge of all boarding and lodging arrangements.