Amarnath Yatra 2026 begins, PM Modi urges pilgrims to adopt five pledges

The annual Amarnath Yatra for 2026 started on July 3 and will run until August 28. The first convoy of 4,822 pilgrims set out from the base camps at Balatal and Pahalgam, travelling on two traditional routes under tight security overseen by the Indian army, CRPF, BSF, ITBP, health services and local volunteers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a public letter to the pilgrims, urging them to observe five pledges: maintain cleanliness on the trek, strictly follow all security and administrative instructions, spend at least 10 percent of their travel expenses on local products, plant a tree on Raksha Bandhan under the “One Tree for Mother” campaign, and uphold a spirit of national service throughout the year.

State leaders, including the chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, also sent blessings, praising the pilgrimage as a symbol of India’s cultural unity. Security forces conducted mock drills, deployed multi‑layered checkpoints and assistance teams, and emphasized cooperation with pilgrims to ensure a safe and smooth journey to the sacred ice‑shaped lingam in the Himalayas.