NEW DELHI: The annual pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir will start on 3 July and conclude on 28 August, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has introduced, with this yr’s Yatra set to run for 57 days.The schedule was finalized at a gathering of the Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board (SASB), chaired by Sinha. Addressing reporters, he mentioned the pilgrimage would finish on the event of Raksha Bandhan. “The pilgrimage will start on July third and conclude on Rakshabandhan on August twenty eighth… it can span 57 days. The Pratham Puja shall be held on Jyeshtha Purnima,” he mentioned.Registration for the Yatra will open from 15 April and has been made obligatory. Pilgrims aged between 13 and 70 years shall be eligible to undertake the journey. Advance registration shall be out there each on-line and offline, with services arrange at greater than 550 designated financial institution branches throughout the nation, together with Jammu and Kashmir Financial institution, State Financial institution of India, Punjab Nationwide Financial institution and Sure Financial institution.Sinha mentioned participation within the pilgrimage has steadily elevated lately, pointing to improved infrastructure and services. To reinforce security, RFID playing cards shall be obligatory for all pilgrims, whereas group unintentional insurance coverage cowl has been doubled from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.He additionally outlined key infrastructure upgrades, together with widened tracks alongside each the Baltal and Nunwan routes, improved bridges, and strengthened catastrophe response programs with the deployment of mountain rescue groups and safety personnel.The pilgrimage will proceed alongside the standard 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag district and the shorter however steeper 14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal district, with authorities making ready for a big turnout of devotees this yr.