Why does the date of Amarnath Yatra change every year? Earlier it was 30th June, this year it was 3rd July, what is the reason behind this?

Why Amarnath Yatra Dates Change Every Year: Amarnath Yatra has started from 3rd July 2026. On Friday, the first batch of pilgrims will leave Jammu and reach Pahalgam, from where the pilgrims will start their journey on foot to visit Baba Barfani. Amarnath Yatra takes place every year, in which people living in other countries besides India also participate.

The interesting thing is that every year this journey starts on a different date. In 2021, this journey started on 28 June, and in 2023 on 1 July. This has been happening for years regarding Amarnath Yatra. In such a situation, the question arises that why does the Amarnath Yatra start on a different date every year?

Amarnath Yatra date changes every year (AI generated photo)

The journey takes place according to the Hindu calendar

The date of Amarnath Yatra is decided according to the Hindu calendar or Vikram Samvat. It has nothing to do with the English calendar or religious beliefs. According to the Hindu calendar, the Amarnath Yatra begins after the beginning of the month of Ashadha, which continues till the day of Shravan Purnima i.e. Rakshabandhan. During this time, the Shivalinga present in the Amarnath cave has taken its full size.

Who decides the date of the trip?

The decision on when and on which day the Amarnath Yatra will start is decided by Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board (SASB). The priests and priestesses of Amarnath cave tell the board the date of the yatra as per the Hindu calendar. The Board then reviews the weather and other arrangements and when they feel there will be no major problems, the priests and priestesses decide on the date for the Yatra. After this that date is announced.

Amarnath Cave (AI generated photo)

Amarnath Yatra has started from July 3 this year, which will now continue for the next 57 days and will end on Rakshabandhan day on August 28. Last year the journey lasted more days than this. Whereas in 2024, only 38 days were available for the journey.

How different is the Hindu calendar from the English calendar?

The prevalent English calendar is based on the movement of the Sun, which determines the 365 days of the year. Whereas the Hindu calendar (Panchang) is exactly the opposite and it calculates the movements of both the Sun and the Moon and on the basis of these its date is decided. In the Hindu calendar, sometimes the date and month can change even in the afternoon. Whereas this does not happen in the English calendar.

Hindu calendar is different from the English calendar (AI generated photo)

Apart from this, a lunar year in the Hindu calendar is of 354 days. Whereas in English calendar a year is of 365 days. That means there is a difference of 11 days every year between the two. To overcome this difference, every three years the Hindu calendar adds an extra month, which is called Adhik Maas. Due to this change, the date of Purnima in the Hindu calendar also changes. This is the reason why the date of Amarnath Yatra gets postponed by one or two days every year.

Lakhs of devotees will visit

Routes to reach Amarnath Cave (AI generated photo)

According to Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board, this year more than 3.5 lakh people have registered for the darshan of Baba Amarnath. This journey which will last till Rakshabandhan has started. However, this time the number of devotees is 1.5 lakh less as compared to last year. About 5 lakh people had visited Amarnath in 2025.

Amarnath journey is very difficult

Government sets up camps for devotees (AI generated photo)

Amarnath Yatra is considered extremely difficult. The biggest reason for this is its height. Amarnath cave is situated at an altitude of 5,486 meters. At this altitude the air is thin and sometimes people have trouble breathing. It can be reached by two routes. The first of which is Baltal route, in this route the travelers have to climb only 14 kilometers. This is the shortest route to Amarnath, but it is extremely difficult.

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Therefore devotees travel to Amarnath via another route via Pahalgam. Through this route, devotees have to travel 36 to 48 kilometers on foot to reach the cave. Devotees complete it in two to three days. During this period, the government makes various arrangements on the way for the facilities of the devotees. Like tents for sleeping, free langar and medical treatment facilities, so that the devotees have to face minimum problems.