42-day Baba Amarnath Yatra will begin from June 23 this year. This will be the first annual visit of Baba Amarnath in J&K after becoming a Union Territory. The decision to start the Amarnath Yatra was taken in a meeting of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board on Friday, which was chaired by Lieutenant Governor GC Murmu.

It was decided at the meeting that Baba Amarnath's annual 2020 yatra should be started on June 23. The yatra will run for 42 days and will conclude on August 3, the day of Rakshabandhan. To make the journey a success, it has been asked to make arrangements within the stipulated time. Travel registration will also start in March. Last year, the yatra lasted for 46 days, starting from July 1, and the journey lasted till August 15. The yatra was halted on August 1 due to security reasons in Kashmir.

At that time the trip was postponed for fifteen days. Stick Mubarak appeared on August 15. Advance registration of the yatra was done from April 1.

Instructions have been given to take effective steps on behalf of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board for registration of Yatra. Board members said that with the better conditions in Kashmir and the formation of a union territory, the number of pilgrims in the yatra is likely to increase this year. More attention should be paid to the devotees who come from India and abroad to visit and have a strong arrangement for their safety. Security forces and agencies have already been instructed to keep a close watch to ensure that anti-national elements do not affect the yatra.

It was informed at the board meeting that as before, this time also registration will be done from the branches of Punjab National Bank, Jammu Kashmir Bank and Yes Bank in different states and union territories of the country. Arrangements will be made to send 7500-7500 devotees daily from both the routes of the trip to Baltal and Pahalgam.

Devotees below 13 years of age and above 75 years of age cannot travel for the journey. For this, it will be necessary to make a health certificate. The arrangements for the yatra are made by the administration of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board.