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More than 400,000 Hindus participated in a month-long pilgrimage across Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, according to officials, following recent tensions with Pakistan. The journey started on July 3 and officially concluded on August 9, but organizers reported that heavy rains damaged the narrow pathways, prompting an early close. Vijay Kumar Bidhuri, an official, confirmed that approximately 415,000 pilgrims took part. Many of the devotees began their trek to the Amarnath ice stalagmite near Pahalgam, an area marked by violence earlier in April when gunmen killed 26 tourists—an attack that India attributes to Pakistan. Islamabad denies involvement and has called for an investigation into the incident, which intensified diplomatic standoffs and led to a four-day conflict involving missile strikes, drones, and artillery, resulting in over 70 casualties before a ceasefire was established on May 10. Although some devotees may still visit the sacred cave dedicated to Lord Shiva, the turnout this year is noticeably lower than the nearly half million who participated in 2024. Authorities urged Hindus to undertake the pilgrimage, deploying 45,000 security personnel with advanced surveillance technology to oversee the challenging journey. Meanwhile, Indian forces engaged in gunfire exchanges with terrorists for the third consecutive day in Kulgam, an area well away from the pilgrimage route, with reports confirming the deaths of two individuals, according to a senior police official.
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