Shadow Correspondent
Jammu, July 01:
On the eve of the commencement of the annual Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra, Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee Working President and former Minister Raman Bhalla on Wednesday visited the Yatri Niwas at Bhagwati Nagar, the base camp for the annual pilgrimage, where he interacted with devotees forming part of the first batch of pilgrims scheduled to leave for the holy cave shrine on Thursday.
Welcoming the pilgrims to the City of Temples, Bhalla extended his heartfelt greetings and wished them a safe, peaceful, and spiritually enriching pilgrimage to the Holy Cave Shrine of Baba Barfani. During his interaction, he enquired about the arrangements made for the Yatra and patiently listened to the experiences and concerns raised by the devotees.
Describing the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra as one of the country’s most revered pilgrimages, Bhalla said it attracts lakhs of devotees from across India every year and symbolises not only deep religious faith but also the country’s unity, communal harmony, and cultural diversity. He said pilgrims from different regions, languages, and traditions come together in a shared spirit of devotion, reinforcing the bonds of national integration.
He said the people of Jammu and Kashmir have always welcomed Amarnath pilgrims with warmth, hospitality, and a spirit of selfless service.
“The people of Jammu and Kashmir are fully prepared to receive the devotees with open hearts. Every pilgrim is treated as a valued guest, and serving them is considered both a duty and a privilege,” he said. Bhalla appreciated the efforts of local residents, social organisations, voluntary groups, and langar committees for their continued contribution towards facilitating a smooth pilgrimage every year. He stressed that the administration should ensure comprehensive arrangements for security, healthcare, accommodation, food, drinking water, sanitation and transportation so that pilgrims do not face any inconvenience during the Yatra. Expressing confidence in the coordinated efforts of the administration, security forces, civil departments and volunteers, he said this year’s pilgrimage would be conducted in a peaceful, safe and successful manner.
The Congress leader also encouraged pilgrims to visit Jammu’s prominent religious, historical and tourist destinations, including Raghunath Temple, Bahu Fort, Bagh-e-Bahu, Mahamaya Temple, Peer Kho Cave Temple, Ranbireshwar Temple and Mubarak Mandi, saying these sites reflect the region’s rich spiritual, cultural and historical heritage while also contributing to the promotion of tourism and the local economy.
Highlighting the economic significance of the annual pilgrimage, Bhalla said the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra provides livelihood opportunities to thousands of people associated with tourism, transport, hospitality, handicrafts, trade and other allied sectors across Jammu and Kashmir. A peaceful and successful Yatra, he said, is therefore important not only from a religious perspective but also for the socio-economic well-being of the region.
Appealing to the pilgrims to adhere to the guidelines issued by the administration, Bhalla urged them to maintain cleanliness, protect the fragile environment and cooperate with the authorities throughout the pilgrimage. He prayed for peace, prosperity, communal harmony and the well-being of the nation, while wishing every devotee a safe, memorable and spiritually fulfilling journey.
Among those present during the visit were Congress Seva Dal chief Vijay Sharma, Babbi, Latish Sharma and Rakesh Kumar.
