Amarnath Yatra Temporarily Halted for ‘Critical Maintenance’ Amidst Sharp Drop in Pilgrim Attendance

Over the past few years, the Amarnath Yatra has seen a steady decline in pilgrim numbers. To put this into perspective, in 2012, the pilgrimage attracted more than 6 lakh devotees. However, in 2022, this number dwindled to slightly over 3 lakh, and this year, it reached around 4.4 lakh.

This year’s pilgrimage season had an extended duration of 62 days, offering pilgrims ample time to embark on their spiritual journey. Nevertheless, the number of participants started dwindling after just two weeks into the pilgrimage.

While the yatra has been temporarily suspended, officials have confirmed that the holy mace, known as Cahari Mubarak, will still be carried to the cave shrine on August 31, marking the culmination of the yatra.

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An official spokesperson stated, “The yatra will remain temporarily suspended from August 23 due to reduced pilgrim flow and ongoing track restoration work, meaning that no one can undertake the yatra from Wednesday onwards.”

To ensure the safety and well-being of pilgrims, the government had put in place robust security arrangements. This included deploying an overwhelming number of security personnel throughout the Kashmir Valley, along with an additional 300 paramilitary companies specifically for yatra security.

Each yatri received a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag over the past two years as part of security measures, helping authorities keep track of their movements.

While security remains a top priority, many believe it should not overshadow the yatra’s cultural and spiritual significance, representing a longstanding journey of syncretic culture in Kashmir. In recent times, the pilgrimage has transformed from a major source of cultural and social integration into a more security-focused event, with convoys and stringent security measures in place.

As the Amarnath Yatra takes an unexpected pause this year, the hope remains that future yatras will strike a balance between security and preserving the rich cultural heritage it represents.