New Delhi

Vice President C P Radhakrishnan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday greeted devotees on the commencement of the 57-day Amarnath Yatra.

In a two-page letter to pilgrims, Modi urged them to take five pledges, including maintaining cleanliness and promote the 'vocal for local' campaign by supporting local businesses in Jammu and Kashmir.

He also asked the devotees to follow instructions related to security and traffic movement during the pilgrimage.

Noting that the yatra will conclude on Raksha Bandhan, he asked pilgrims to gift their brothers and sisters a sapling to promote greenery. He also pushed for Rashtra Pratham or nation first and contribute towards the goal of making India a developed nation.

The Amarnath Yatra 2026 began on Friday and will conclude on August 28.

In a post on X, Radhakrishnan said, "As the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra commences today, I extend my heartiest greetings and best wishes to all the devotees undertaking this sacred pilgrimage."

पवित्र श्री अमरनाथ जी यात्रा के शुभारंभ के अवसर पर इस पावन तीर्थयात्रा पर जाने वाले सभी श्रद्धालुओं को मेरी हार्दिक शुभकामनाएँ एवं मंगलकामनाएँ।

श्री अमरनाथ जी यात्रा हमारी सनातन आध्यात्मिक विरासत तथा आस्था एवं भक्ति की शाश्वत परंपरा का प्रतीक है। सदियों से देश के कोने-कोने से… pic.twitter.com/bUEOYFwuBO

— Vice-President of India (@VPIndia) July 3, 2026

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He said the yatra, one of India's most revered and ancient pilgrimages, reflects the timeless spiritual heritage of Bharat and its enduring traditions of faith and devotion.

For centuries, devotees from across the country have undertaken this sacred journey to the Amarnath Cave, reaffirming the values of unity, harmony and spiritual awakening that lie at the heart of Bharat's civilisational ethos, he said.