Srinagar, July 24, 2025 : In a heartwarming display of global faith and spiritual unity, nine young foreign nationals from six different countries, including the United States, Canada, and Germany, undertook the sacred Amarnath Yatra via the Baltal route in South Kashmir.
Their journey to the 3,880-metre-high cave shrine, housing the naturally formed ice Shivlingam, was not just a physical trek but a deeply emotional and spiritual experience.
Ross Norman Leech, a pilgrim from Canada, described his visit to the holy cave as profound:
“I had tears in my eyes and experienced deep silence inside the cave. It felt like meeting Mahadev—meeting consciousness itself. The whole world is connected in this energy. It was very, very special.”
Leech shared that the group had been preparing for this journey for over four years, and their expectations were surpassed:
“The trek is challenging, you must be prepared—but it is worth every step. If you feel the call, you must come. This place is powerful.”
He also lauded the hospitality of the Kashmiri people and the arrangements made by the authorities:
“We felt very safe and supported throughout the pilgrimage. The hospitality has been incredible. I’m very happy to be here.”
Another foreign devotee echoed the sentiment, saying,
“We look forward to returning. The experience was deeply moving, and everything—from security to comfort—was well taken care of.”
The Amarnath Yatra 2025, which commenced on July 3, has so far seen over 3.5 lakh pilgrims pay obeisance at the sacred cave. The yatra will conclude on August 9, coinciding with the festival of Raksha Bandhan.
The participation of foreign devotees this year has added a new layer of global resonance to the pilgrimage, reaffirming that spiritual journeys transcend boundaries and bring hearts together—on the mountain paths of Kashmir and beyond.
