Amarnath Yatra 2026 concludes Chhari Mubarak reaches lower Holy Cave, final rituals performed 4.80 lakh pilgrims undertake sacred journey

Srinagar, : The Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra 2026 concluded officially on Friday on the auspicious occasion of Raksha Bandhan, with the Holy Mace (Chhari Mubarak) reaching the Holy Cave shrine. The final annual puja is being performed inside the cave, marking the culmination of the 57-day-long pilgrimage.
The annual pilgrimage, which commenced on July 3, concluded smoothly with around 4.80 lakh pilgrims having undertaken the sacred journey to the Himalayan shrine this year. The yatra passed off peacefully, with officials maintaining that extensive arrangements made by the administration and various security and response agencies contributed to the smooth conduct of the pilgrimage.
The final rituals were performed at the Holy Cave on Friday as part of the traditional conclusion of the annual pilgrimage. The Holy Mace, revered as a sacred symbol of Lord Shiva, was subsequently moved safely towards Panjtarni after the completion of the annual puja.
On August 28, the Holy Mace proceeded from the Holy Cave towards Panjtarni, accompanied by personnel from the Mountain Rescue Teams (MRTs) of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police (JKAP), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).
Earlier in the day, the Chhari Mubarak safely reached the Lower Holy Cave, where it was received and escorted by the Mountain Rescue Teams deployed along the route. The coordinated presence of the specialised teams ensured safe movement of the Holy Mace through the challenging high-altitude terrain.
The conclusion of the yatra on Raksha Bandhan holds special religious significance, with the traditional rituals associated with the Chhari Mubarak marking the formal culmination of the annual pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave shrine.
The 57-day-long Shri Amarnath Ji pilgrimage witnessed the participation of devotees from different parts of the country, with arrangements put in place across the twin routes of Baltal and Pahalgam. The administration and security agencies had maintained elaborate arrangements for pilgrim facilitation, route management, medical assistance, sanitation, communication and emergency response throughout the yatra.
The successful completion of the pilgrimage with approximately 4.80 lakh devotees was also seen as a reflection of the coordinated efforts of the administration, security forces, disaster-response teams, healthcare personnel, volunteers and other departments involved in the annual yatra.