India Wraps Up Mass Hindu Pilgrimage in Contested Kashmir

 The Indian government on August 02, 2025, concluded a month-long mass Hindu pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave shrine in contested Kashmir, marking the end of the annual yatra with over 500,000 devotees participating despite heightened security and regional tensions. 

The pilgrimage, held between June 29 and July 31, saw pilgrims trek 14 kilometers through mountainous terrain to worship a naturally formed ice lingam, a symbol of Lord Shiva, with the Indian Army deploying 50,000 troops and establishing 100 security camps to counter threats from separatist groups like Hizbul Mujahideen. The event generated $50 million in local revenue, boosting the economy, but was marred by two militant attacks, killing five pilgrims.

Local Kashmiri Muslims, representing 70% of the region’s population, expressed mixed sentiments, with some welcoming economic benefits and others viewing the pilgrimage as a tool of cultural imposition following India’s 2019 revocation of Article 370, which granted Kashmir special autonomy. 

Critics argue the government’s heavy militarization and promotion of Hindu nationalism alienate the Muslim majority, while officials tout it as a symbol of national unity. The narrative of religious celebration is intertwined with political contention, raising questions about whether the yatra fosters peace or exacerbates Kashmir’s fragile ethnic divide.