Amarnath Yatra 2023: All you need to know about the holy pilgrimage

This is the only time in the year when the Amarnath Cave is accessible. The Yatra takes place during Shravani Mela, which falls in the Shravan month, according to the Hindu calendar.

History and significance

Naturally-formed ice lingam inside the Shri Amarnath Cave Shrine ahead of the beginning of the Amarnath Yatra from July 1, in Pahalgam. (PTI Photo)

The Amarnath Yatra is a 46 km long journey which is believed to test the faith and belief of devotees that throng the site every year. It is believed that a visit to the place absolves one of the worldly sins. According to legends, the cave was chosen by Lord Shiva to reveal the secrets of immortality and the creation of the Universe to Goddess Parvati.

It is also said that there was a shepherd named Buta Malik who first discovered the cave. According to the legend, Buta Malik received a bag full of coal from a saint and when he got back home, he was surprised to see gold coins instead of coal. To show his gratitude to the saint, he went back to the place where he met him but found the cave with the ice lingam inside instead. The ice lingam represents Lord Shiva and is formed by a trickle of water from a cleft in the roof of the cave.

However, other epics tell a different story. It says that the Kashmir valley was submerged in water and Kashyap Rishi drained it through various rivers and rivulets. During the same time, Bhrigu Rishi visited the Himalayas and was the first to have the darshan of the holy Amarnath Cave.

How to perform this pilgrimage

Sadhus wait to register themselves for the Amarnath Yatra, at Ram Mandir base camp in Jammu. (PTI Photo)

The registration is being done by Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board through various registration centres located around India; online registration has also started.

As per the guidelines, individuals between the ages of 13 and 70 can register themselves with a mandatory health certificate. However, women with a pregnancy of 6 weeks or more are not allowed to undertake the yatra.

Here’s a list of precautions for devotees, as advised by the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board:

*Do prepare for the Yatra by achieving physical fitness– it is advisable to start a preparatory morning/evening walk, about 4-5 km per day at least a month prior to the yatra.
*Start deep breathing exercises and yoga, particularly pranayama for improving the oxygen efficiency of the body.
*Do check with your physician prior to travelling to higher elevations, if you have any existing pre-medical conditions.
*Do walk slowly while ascending and take time to acclimatise-relax for a short while on steep inclines.

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