The Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board (SASB) on Febraury 12 approved the installation of a laser and sound show dedicated to ‘Baba Barfani’ in Srinagar and Jammu, and enhanced the accidental insurance cover for registered yatris and associated personnel ahead of the 2026 pilgrimage. Shri Amarnath is popularly known as `Baba Barfani’ as the centrepiece of the rituals is the naturally formed Shiv Linga of snow in the cave every year.
The decisions were taken at the 50th Board meeting, chaired by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who is also the Chairman of the SASB. The board was formed on the recommendations of the Nitish Sengupta Committee, which was formed after inclement weather, including unprecedented heavy snow blizzard, had claimed around 250 lives in the year 1995.
The Board announced that the Pratham Pooja for the 2026 Yatra will be performed on June 29 on the occasion of Jyeshtha Purnimaa. The formal commencement date of the pilgrimage will be finalised separately. The yatra culminates with a formal pooja on Raksha Bandhan day, performed by Mahant Deependra Giri of the Dashnami Akhara. This year, that day falls on August 28.
Among the key measures approved was the board increasing the accidental insurance cover from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh for registered yatris, service providers, officials, seasonal workers and pujaris. Various welfare measures for SASB employees were also cleared. As in the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, registration has been mandatory for many years at the Shri Amarnath pilgrimage also.
The proposed laser and sound show will highlight the shrine’s spiritual legacy and the rich cultural heritage of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir.
Sinha directed officials to identify suitable locations for additional toilet facilities along the Yatra routes and to install shelter sheds and rain shelters for pilgrims, service providers and security personnel. Since the pilgrimage is conducted during the rainy season, one of the most important precautions is the creation of enough shelters for pilgrims all along the routes.
The meeting reviewed preparedness across multiple sectors, including pilgrim registration, disaster mitigation measures, medical care facilities, insurance coverage for ponies, and the extension of online and pre-paid services. Telecommunication, grid connectivity, weather forecasting systems, security, surveillance, and the installation of crash barriers and safety railings along vulnerable stretches on both the Baltal and traditional Pahalgam routes.
The Board was informed that the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has made significant progress in maintenance, restoration and development of the Yatra tracks, achieving comfortable track width on both the routes. The tracks were not handed over to the BRO for maintenance earlier, which posed many challenges. However, handing them over to BRO has made a significant difference in their maintenance and upkeep.
Mandeep K Bhandari, Chief Executive Officer of SASB, gave a detailed presentation on the arrangements for the forthcoming Yatra. The meeting was attended by members of the Shrine Board- Swami Avdheshanand Giri Ji Maharaj, Prof. Kailash Mehra Sadhu, KK Sharma, KN Rai, Mukesh Garg, Shailesh Raina, Simridhi Bindroo, Suresh Haware and Professor Vishwamurti Shastri.
Atal Dulloo, Chief Secretary; Shaleen Kabra, Additional Chief Secretary, Jal Shakti Department; Shailendra Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary, Power Development Department; Nalin Prabhat, DGP; Chandraker Bharti, Principal Secretary Home; Santosh D. Vaidya, Principal Secretary, Finance; Administrative Secretaries; Divisional Commissioner Jammu; Divisional Commissioner Kashmir; IGPs; Deputy Commissioners (Ganderbal and Anantnag); Additional CEO SASB and senior officers of the UT Administration, BRO and Shrine Board also attended the meeting, in person and through virtual mode, at Lok Bhavan Jammu.
