SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday felicitated officers of the Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board, Civil Administration, Army, CAPFs, J&K Police, BRO, medical professionals, service providers and other stakeholders for the successful conduct of Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra-2026.
Addressing the gathering, the Lieutenant Governor said the pilgrimage represented a collective resolve that transformed hardships into duty, challenges into opportunities and service into a form of spiritual practice.
He expressed gratitude to officers, security personnel, sanitation workers, pony operators, pithu bearers, palanquin carriers, langar volunteers and medical staff for ensuring a smooth, secure and dignified pilgrimage despite difficult terrain and adverse weather conditions.
Sinha said the achievement was not the success of any one institution or department, but of “Team Jammu Kashmir” as a whole.
The 57-day pilgrimage was conducted from July 3 to August 28, 2026, during which around 4.80 lakh devotees had darshan of Baba Barfani. Adverse weather posed serious challenges for more than 10 days during the Yatra period.
According to official figures, 82 per cent of pilgrims completed darshan within the first 20 days, while 95 per cent completed it within the first month.
Around 54,000 service providers were registered for the pilgrimage, including 31,000 pony operators, pithu bearers and palanquin carriers, 6,400 tent and shop operators and 7,700 langar volunteers.
Nearly 1.87 lakh pilgrims availed palanquin and pony services.
A total of 93 medical facilities were established along the Yatra route, comprising 595 clinical beds and 26 oxygen booths. Around 1,430 doctors and nursing personnel remained on round-the-clock duty, supported by 48 ambulances.
As part of the zero-waste Yatra initiative, 7,900 toilets were installed and maintained by an equal number of sanitation workers.
The holding capacity was enhanced to 63,000 within the Yatra area and 54,000 across Jammu and Kashmir divisions. Aadhaar-based registration was also used to address the issue of duplicate registrations.
Real-time monitoring of the pilgrimage was carried out through twice-daily coordination meetings at 3 am and 8 pm under the supervision of Shrine Board CEO and Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor, Dr Mandeep K. Bhandari, along with nodal officers, police, Divisional Commissioners and camp officers.
The Lieutenant Governor said the sacred Yatra reflected India’s Sanatan tradition and its ethos of humanity, coexistence and collective service.
He said pilgrims from across the country returned home not only with a religious experience but also with the message of Jammu and Kashmir’s culture and hospitality.
Sinha thanked civil society groups, political parties and religious leaders for extending support to the pilgrimage and said the discipline, coordination and spirit displayed during the Yatra should become an enduring part of Jammu and Kashmir’s development ethos.
“I am confident that every citizen of Jammu Kashmir fulfilled their moral responsibility towards this Yatra, directly or indirectly, and elevated the rich cultural tradition of the UT before the entire country,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
He added that the pilgrimage had demonstrated that sustained effort, collective resolve, clear leadership, strong arrangements and the spirit of service could make even the most difficult goals achievable.
