With chants of “Bam Bam Bhole” and “Jai Baba Barfani” echoing in the air, the District Administration Kathua extended a heartfelt and vibrant welcome to the first batch of Shri Amarnath Ji Yatris at Lakhanpur—the traditional gateway to the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir.
Lakhanpur, transformed into a dynamic and spiritually charged facilitation centre, witnessed an exuberant reception early this morning. The pilgrims were greeted with traditional warmth and devotion by DDC Chairman Col. (Retd) Mahan Singh, Deputy Commissioner Kathua Dr. Rakesh Minhas, SSP Kathua Shobhit Sexena, Vice Chairman DDC Raghunandan Singh, MLA Kathua Dr Bharat Bhushan, ADC Vishavjeet Singh (Yatra Nodal Officer) and senior civil and police officers.
To ensure smooth facilitation, 12 RFID counters were operational on-site for issuing RFID tags after eKYC verification, a mandatory step for registered yatris before continuing their onward journey. The arrangements saw enthusiastic cooperation and timely processing, reflecting the administration’s commitment to efficiency and pilgrim-centric services.
Before departing from Lakhanpur at 12:30 PM, the yatris were immersed in soul-stirring devotional performances—featuring Shiv Tandav stotras and bhajans—curated by artists from the District Information Centre Kathua. The spiritual ambiance energized the devotees, setting a powerful tone for their sacred journey ahead.
Speaking on the occasion, the DC welcomed the pilgrims with open arms, reaffirming the district’s full preparedness to provide a safe, seamless and spiritually uplifting experience. He informed that dedicated helplines, service desks, medical aid points and sanitation facilities have been set up as part of a coordinated multi-agency Yatra support framework.
This year, Kathua District has gone the extra mile to turn the Lakhanpur Yatri Facilitation Centre into a symbol of hospitality, devotion, and administrative excellence, ensuring that every pilgrim receives not just logistical support, but also emotional and cultural enrichment.
Later, the Jatha was formally flagged off from Lakhanpur amidst chants of devotion and spirited farewells by the district officers, marking the symbolic commencement of this year’s pilgrimage. The Jatha of yatris with proper security will now proceed to the Jammu Base Camp, where the formal commencement of the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra 2025 is scheduled for July 2.