Offline registration for the annual Amarnath Yatra commenced Tuesday, with enthusiastic pilgrims queuing at designated bank branches. The 38-day pilgrimage, scheduled from July 3 to August 9 (culminating on Raksha Bandhan), will follow the traditional 48-km Pahalgam route and the shorter 14-km Baltal route.
The Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) has established 540 bank branches nationwide for offline registration, complementing the online registration that started Monday. Registration is mandatory, with age restrictions (13-75 years) and limitations for pregnant women (over six weeks).
“Registration began this morning, with many devotees arriving early,” stated a Punjab National Bank official. Local residents expressed excitement, with one pilgrim, Ajay Mehra, marking his seventh yatra. “The happiness of visiting Baba Barfani is unparalleled,” he said.
Pilgrims like Sham Lal Dogra, embarking on his 45th yatra, and first-timers like Asha Devi, Atika, and Kusum Gupta, conveyed their anticipation. Kusum Gupta, traveling with a six-member family, chose the Baltal route.
Last year’s yatra saw over 512,000 pilgrims, a 12-year high.
