Thousands of Hindu pilgrims began the annual Amarnath Yatra in Indian-occupied Kashmir on Thursday, starting from Pahalgam, the same town where a deadly April attack triggered armed conflict between India and Pakistan. Despite fears, devotees say they feel safe due to the presence of heavy security forces.
Last year, over 500,000 people took part in the pilgrimage to the sacred ice pillar representing Lord Shiva, located in a cave at 3,900 meters above sea level. This year, India has deployed 45,000 troops, facial recognition systems, surveillance drones, and armoured vehicles to ensure the safety of the participants.
The pilgrimage follows heightened tensions after gunmen killed 26 Hindu tourists in Pahalgam on April 22. India blamed Pakistan for the attack, a claim Islamabad denied. The accusations led to a four-day military conflict—the worst since the 1999 Kargil war—with over 70 people killed before a ceasefire on May 10.
Despite these events, many pilgrims say they are unfazed. “Whatever happened here, I am not afraid,” said Ujwal Yadav, 29, from Uttar Pradesh. “Security is so strong that no one can even try to harm us.” Authorities have made registration, guarded vehicle convoys, and electronic tracking mandatory for all pilgrims.
Officials say the pilgrimage has grown from a small local ritual into a high-profile national event since the insurgency began in 1989. Though freedom fighters in Kashmir claim the yatra is not a target, they have warned against using it to assert religious dominance. In 2017, an attack on a pilgrim bus killed 11 people.
The attackers behind April’s assault remain at large, but India’s National Investigation Agency recently arrested two men who allegedly supported the gunmen. Wanted notices have been issued for three suspects, two of whom Indian officials claim are Pakistani nationals. The pilgrimage will continue until August 9.