Jammu, August 16,2026- Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha graced the inaugural function of the Shri Baba Budha Amarnath Ji Yatra in Jammu on Sunday, marking the commencement of one of the region’s most significant annual pilgrimages and setting the tone for a journey that draws thousands of devotees to the historic shrine in Poonch each year.
Addressing the gathering, Sinha described the yatra as far more than a physical journey, calling it an inward passage toward self-realisation and communion with the eternal consciousness of Lord Shiva. He said the pilgrimage embodied devotion, discipline and unity in equal measure, and urged devotees to carry Shiva’s core teachings — truth, duty, discipline and compassion — into their everyday lives, framing the yatra as an opportunity for both spiritual reflection and personal renewal.
A Shrine Steeped in Spiritual History
The Lieutenant Governor recounted the spiritual origins of the shrine, where, according to tradition, Maharishi Pulastya performed penance and received Lord Shiva’s blessings, establishing the site as an enduring centre of faith for generations of devotees. He also drew attention to the Pulast Ganga, the sacred river flowing alongside the shrine, and to the historical legacy of “Pulast Nagari” — the ancient name for present-day Poonch — as markers of the region’s deep and continuous spiritual heritage, one that predates much of the modern history associated with the area.
Sinha framed the yatra as a living symbol of India’s unity in diversity, noting that thousands of pilgrims travel from across the country each year to walk, chant and offer themselves together at the shrine, regardless of where they come from or the distances they must cover to get there. “This yatra holds a special place in the hearts of devotees. That is why thousands of pilgrims from different parts of the country gather here every year and undertake the yatra together. They walk together and chant the name of Lord Shiva together,” he said, describing it further as a demonstration of unity in diversity, strength through spirituality, and peace through surrender to Lord Shiva, the supreme power.
Lessons of Sacrifice and Leadership
Invoking the episode of Lord Shiva consuming poison during the Samudra Manthan to protect creation from destruction, the Lieutenant Governor said the moment offered a timeless lesson in leadership: that true devotion and true leadership alike lie in absorbing hardship for the welfare of others. He encouraged pilgrims to draw on this example of patience, sacrifice and spiritual strength as they undertake the physically demanding journey that lies ahead of them.
Sinha also placed the shrine within the broader canvas of Shiva worship across India, linking it to major centres of devotion from Kedarnath in the north to Rameshwaram in the south, and from Somnath in the west to Tarakeshwar in the east — each, he said, reflecting a unifying spiritual consciousness that permeates the nation’s cultural fabric and binds this vast country together in harmony despite its immense diversity.
Recognition for Organisers and Volunteers
The Lieutenant Governor commended the Baba Amarnath and Budha Amarnath Yatri Nyas, along with volunteers from the Vishva Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal, for having organised the yatra with discipline and devotion for more than two decades without interruption. He said the combination of discipline and devotion continues to light the path for both present and future generations of pilgrims, ensuring the yatra’s traditions are preserved even as its scale grows year on year.
Closing his address, Sinha offered prayers for the yatra’s success, wishing pilgrims strength, wisdom, courage and peace, and called on devotees to let the values of dharma and truth guide their daily lives in a way that strengthens the nation’s broader unity and spiritual fabric long after the pilgrimage itself concludes.
Yatra Set to Begin Monday
The yatra is scheduled to formally commence on Monday morning with a flag-off ceremony from Bhagwati Nagar. The Lieutenant Governor extended his wishes for a safe, smooth and spiritually fulfilling pilgrimage to all devotees undertaking the journey in the days ahead.
The inaugural function was attended by Swami Dinesh Bharti Ji; Milind Parande, Organising General Secretary, Vishva Hindu Parishad; Kishan Prajapat, National Convenor, Bajrang Dal; Rajesh Gupta, President, Vishva Hindu Parishad, J&K; Bhim Sen Tuti, IGP Jammu; Ramesh Kumar, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu; along with senior officials and prominent citizens from various walks of life.
