Poonch is all set to welcome the Shri Budha Amarnath Yatra from August 17; District administration steps up security and other arrangements

POONCH TODAY NEWS

POONCH: Known across the country for its tradition of communal harmony and brotherhood, Poonch is all set to welcome the historic Shri Budha Amarnath Yatra, beginning on August 17, 2026. With thousands of pilgrims expected to participate in the annual pilgrimage, the district administration and police have stepped up preparations to ensure a peaceful, smooth, and successful yatra. At the same time, foolproof security arrangements remain a major challenge for the authorities, particularly in view of the strategic location of the Poonch district.

Deputy Commissioner Poonch Ashok Sharma and SSP Poonch Shafqat Hussain have chaired a series of meetings with senior officers and representatives of different departments to review arrangements for the yatra. The administration has stressed close coordination among all concerned agencies to ensure that pilgrims do not face any inconvenience. The DC Poonch has directed the concerned departments to ensure uninterrupted water and power supply, first-aid facilities, proper sanitation, mobile toilets, smooth traffic management, and adequate parking arrangements. Several meetings were also held at Mandi in the presence of Swami Vishwatmanand Saraswati Ji, head of the Dashnami Akhara religious seat. Prominent citizens from Mandi and Poonch, along with officers from the civil administration and police, participated in these meetings. A threadbare discussion was held on various issues concerning the yatra, and it was resolved that all possible arrangements would be put in place well in advance to ensure its peaceful and successful conduct, in keeping with the tradition of previous years. The people of Mandi have played a remarkable role for decades in ensuring the peaceful completion of successive yatras. Their participation has become an important symbol of the communal harmony and brotherhood for which Poonch is widely known. The Shri Budha Amarnath Yatra was started by the Bajrang Dal and VHP in 2005 and has since become an annual religious event. Over the years, people belonging to different communities, irrespective of caste, color, or creed, have extended their support to the yatra and welcomed pilgrims with warmth and hospitality. Every year, thousands of yatris from different parts of the country participate in the pilgrimage, carrying with them a message of peace, communal harmony, brotherhood, and nationalism. The Shri Budha Amarnath Temple, situated at the confluence of the Gagri and Pulasta rivers, is located around 25 kilometers from the Poonch city. The shrine holds immense religious significance, with devotees from across the country visiting the temple to pay obeisance to Lord Shiva. The holy Chhari Mubarak, under the supervision of Swami Vishwatmanand Saraswati Ji, will be taken from Poonch to Mandi on August 26, while the Raksha Bandhan festival will be celebrated at the shrine on August 28.  Given the large number of pilgrims expected to attend, ensuring foolproof security remains one of the biggest responsibilities before the police and civil administration. The authorities have accordingly intensified coordination and preparedness measures, with security arrangements being reviewed at different levels. VHP president Nishu Gupta said that all issues concerning the yatra had been brought to the notice of the district administration, and plans had been prepared accordingly. “Officers from the top and district levels have conducted various meetings, and implementation of the plans is going on the ground. We are hopeful of witnessing another peaceful and successful yatra with the cooperation of people from every section of society,” he said. Gupta also emphasized the role of the people of Mandi in the successful conduct of the pilgrimage and urged the authorities to ensure security at every level.

Senior PDP leader from Mandi Shamim Ganai said that the people of Mandi had stood with the yatra for decades because they believed in communal harmony and brotherhood. “From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, this yatra sends a message of peace and communal harmony. I have seen the DC Poonch and SSP Poonch taking keen interest in ensuring a peaceful and successful yatra by conducting regular meetings,” Ganai said. He expressed confidence that people across Poonch would once again stand united in welcoming the pilgrims. Ganai said the people of Mandi had always welcomed yatris with open hearts and that the annual pilgrimage also provided local residents with an opportunity to earn their livelihood while interacting with people from different parts of the country and learning about their culture and traditions. Meanwhile, despite the growing importance of the shrine, the condition of the road leading to Mandi remains a major concern. The Shri Budha Amarnath Yatra occupies a significant place among the religious pilgrimages of Jammu and Kashmir after the Shri Amarnath Yatra in Kashmir. However, the lack of a high-quality, all-weather road to the shrine continues to hamper the development of religious tourism in the area. For years, poor blacktopping and patchwork have largely remained the administration’s response to potholes and deteriorating road conditions. Local residents have repeatedly demanded a permanent solution to the problem. Mandi has also remained politically significant for Poonch, yet, despite successive elected representatives, a long-pending demand for construction of a proper double-lane road from Chandak to Mandi has not been fulfilled. Such a road would not only facilitate the annual Shri Budha Amarnath Yatra but would also improve year-round connectivity to important religious and tourist destinations, including Sian Ilahi Baksh Loran and the Shri Budha Amarnath Shrine. With the yatra set to begin shortly, locals have once again urged the government to treat the development of Mandi’s religious tourism infrastructure as a priority. A sustained focus on road connectivity, basic facilities, and year-round tourism infrastructure could transform Mandi into a major religious tourism destination, attracting pilgrims and visitors from across the country throughout the year. For now, Poonch is preparing to welcome the yatris once again, with security agencies facing a major responsibility and the people of the district preparing to reaffirm the region’s longstanding tradition of communal harmony, brotherhood, and peaceful coexistence.

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