A showcase of undeterred faith as pilgrims begin the Amarnath Yatra

The Amarnath Yatra, a 38-day pilgrimage to a sacred cave shrine situated over 12,000 feet above sea level, is proving to be a profound test of faith and endurance. Less than a week in, authorities have already reported the death of one pilgrim. With immense faith pilgrims have started for the Pissu Top, a punishing 3-km trek that climbs relentlessly to 11,000 feet, where every breath becomes a struggle against gravity.

While the path to the holy cave has seen significant modernisation, now widened and paved with locking tiles and illuminated by solar-powered street lights, this progress has come at a cost. Handrails and safety walls now guide the faithful, but the once diamond-bright glacial streams are reduced to trickles amidst rubble, and trees stand mutilated.

The journey under the relentless sun and swirling dust is physically punishing, with temperatures soaring. Pilgrims, from well-equipped trekkers to those driven by raw faith, face profound exhaustion, often leading to breakdowns. Critical needs like water are stark, with bottles sold for Rs 50 along the way. This year's pilgrimage operates under tight military security. Facial-recognition systems linked to militant databases and no-fly zones over yatra routes are rigorously implemented. Despite recent terror incidents, devotees are undeterred, demonstrating immense faith. Even local Muslims extend a warm welcome to the devotees