The 57-day annual Amarnath Yatra began on Friday amid great devotion, with the pilgrimage set to continue until August 28.
Extending his greetings to devotees, Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a special two-page message urging pilgrims to take five key pledges during the sacred journey. He called on them to maintain cleanliness, protect the environment, support local products and businesses, strictly follow security and traffic advisories, and contribute to the vision of a Viksit Bharat.
The Prime Minister also encouraged pilgrims to gift a sapling along with a Rakhi as the Yatra concludes around Raksha Bandhan, symbolizing both brotherhood and environmental responsibility.
Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan described the Amarnath Yatra as a timeless symbol of India's rich spiritual heritage and wished for a safe and successful pilgrimage for all devotees.
