Devotees are excited to see the first photographs of a rare “purna swaroop” (complete form) of the naturally formed ice Shivalinga inside the holy Amarnath cave, for the 2026 pilgrimage season. In this form, Lord Shiva is said to be visible in full size along with Mother Parvati and Lord Ganesha – pilgrims consider this to be an extremely auspicious sign. They believe that this is a sign of divine blessings and perhaps the duration of Baba Barfani’s darshan may also increase this year.
These photos were said to have been taken by a group of devotees from Punjab in the second week of April, and have now gone viral widely. These early visitors reach the cave every year before the formal pilgrimage begins. There has been no official confirmation yet from Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board or security agencies.
Amarnath Yatra 2026 will start on July 3 and end on August 28 (Raksha Bandhan). The journey will last for 57 days — which is 19 days more than last year. Announcing this program, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said that the first puja will be performed on June 29 (Jyestha Purnima).
Advance registration for the pilgrimage will begin from April 15, 2026. This registration can be done both online and offline in 554 designated bank branches across the country. These banks include J&K Bank, Punjab National Bank, SBI and Yes Bank.
Preparations are going on in full swing. Snow removal and track protection work has started on both Baltal and Chandanwadi routes. Kashmir Divisional Commissioner Anshul Garg has been reviewing the preparations of various departments since March. He has laid special emphasis on improving infrastructure, transportation, communication and facilities for pilgrims. Security still remains the biggest priority. The Army, J&K Police, CRPF, ITBP and other central forces are working together and using modern technologies for surveillance.
The Shrine Board and administration aim to ensure that the Yatra is conducted smoothly and safely, and is attended by a record number of pilgrims. Considering the increasing number of pilgrims in the last few years, the administration is hoping to make even better arrangements this time. Devotees are advised to register early and follow the official guidelines.
Comments are closed.