Although the dates for this year's Shri Amarnath Yatra have yet to be finalised, the Pratham Pooja for the 2026 pilgrimage will be performed on June 29, 2026, on the occasion of Jyeshtha Purnima.
The announcement was made during the 50th Board meeting of the Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board (SASB), held under the chairmanship of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who is also the Chairman of the Board.
The Board approved the setting up of a laser and sound show dedicated to 'Baba Barfani', to be hosted in both Srinagar and Jammu. The show will serve as a cultural attraction, highlighting the rich spiritual heritage of the Union Territory.
The Board stated that while the Pratham Pooja date has been finalised, the formal commencement date of the Yatra will be announced separately.
Several key measures and interventions were approved to further enhance the spiritual experience and convenience of devotees for the 2026 Yatra.
The Shrine Board decided to increase the accidental insurance cover for registered yatris, service providers, officials, seasonal workers, and pujaris from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.
The Board also discussed and approved various welfare measures for SASB employees.
The Lieutenant Governor directed officials to identify suitable locations for the installation of toilet facilities en route to the Yatra. He also instructed the installation of shelter sheds and rain shelters along the tracks for pilgrims, service providers, and security personnel.
The meeting reviewed ongoing projects and deliberated on the dissemination of Yatra-related information. The meeting also discussed insurance cover for ponies; extension of online and prepaid services; registration of pilgrims; disaster preparedness and mitigation measures; adequate provisioning of medical facilities; langar and volunteer services.
The Board also discussed the issues related to telecommunication and grid connectivity; weather forecasting infrastructure and systems, security and surveillance; implementation of a digital prepaid system for hiring services; laying of crash barriers and safety railings along vulnerable stretches on both routes; and the progress achieved in various works undertaken by different departments.
While reviewing the maintenance, restoration, and development of the Yatra tracks by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), the Board was informed that the BRO has made significant progress, achieving a comfortable track width on both the Baltal and Pahalgam routes.
Dr Mandeep K. Bhandari, Chief Executive Officer of the Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board, gave a detailed presentation on the arrangements for the upcoming Yatra.
The meeting was attended by Shrine Board Members Swami Avdheshanand Giri Ji Maharaj, Prof. Kailash Mehra Sadhu, K.K. Sharma, K.N. Rai, Mukesh Garg, Dr. Shailesh Raina, Dr. Simridhi Bindroo, Suresh Haware, and Prof. Vishwamurti Shastri.
Also present were Atal Dulloo, Chief Secretary; Shaleen Kabra, Additional Chief Secretary, Jal Shakti Department; Shailendra Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary, Power Development Department; Nalin Prabhat, Director General of Police; Chandraker Bharti, Principal Secretary, Home; Santosh D. Vaidya, Principal Secretary, Finance; Administrative Secretaries; Divisional Commissioners of Jammu and Kashmir; Inspectors General of Police; Deputy Commissioners of Ganderbal and Anantnag; the Additional CEO, SASB; and senior officers of the UT Administration, BRO, and the Shrine Board. The meeting was held at Lok Bhavan, Jammu, with participation both in person and through virtual mode.
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