Amarnath Yatra Begins Under Tight Security After Attack

The annual Amarnath Yatra began on July 3, 2025, with thousands of Hindu pilgrims starting their month-long trek to the sacred cave shrine in Kashmir. This year’s pilgrimage follows an April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 tourists, prompting the deployment of 45,000 troops and enhanced security measures such as facial recognition, drone surveillance, and fortified base camps. Many devotees purposefully chose the Pahalgam route to honor victims and demonstrate resilience, with the number of participants in the first batch surpassing previous years. Pilgrims welcomed improved infrastructure, including the introduction of the Vande Bharat train, and expressed gratitude for the arrangements. Both local authorities and national leaders are closely overseeing the Yatra, which has become a symbol of faith prevailing over fear in the region. The 38-day pilgrimage is set to conclude on August 9, 2025.