The Amarnath Yatra is a national annual event in India during the months of June to August. Enthusiastic pilgrims from all corners of the country come to pay obeisance in large numbers at the Holy Shrine of Shiva located at a height of approximately 14000 ft in the treacherous mountains of Jammu and Kashmir, India. The Yatra or pilgrimage every year commences once the route becomes accessible and is fully secured by the Indian Army and comes to an end on the traditionally auspicious day of Raksha Bandhan or Shravan Purnima.

Often heavy snow poses intense difficulties to the Army to open the route in the early part of June. It is the Army that leads the induction on both the Northern and Southern routes showing that “where there is a will, there is a way” to open the Yatra route on time. The troops endure adverse terrain and weather conditions to put up an exhaustive security umbrella for the Yatra.

Apart from providing impregnable security arrangements on the routes, the Army also extends its role in providing various types of humanitarian assistance to the yatris or pilgrims.

Reference: Press Information Bureau, Government of India