Immense enthusiasm is evident among the devotees of ‘Baba Barfani’ (Lord Shiva). In fact, as soon as registration for the 2026 Shri Amarnath Yatra commenced, devotees from Jalandhar began flocking to the bank in large numbers. Long queues formed outside the J&K Bank branch located in Ali Mohalla, with people lining up for registration since early morning. Speaking to the media, one devotee mentioned that she had been standing in line since 7:00 AM and that this would be her third pilgrimage to Amarnath. She expressed that the long queues did not bother her, as it is a minor inconvenience compared to the significance of the pilgrimage itself. Meanwhile, another devotee shared that he was undertaking the pilgrimage for the first time but was facing difficulties with the registration process due to the bank’s inefficient system.
On the other hand, according to the bank’s Branch Manager, Sanjay Kumar, the registration process has officially begun and is being conducted daily from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. On the first day alone, approximately 100 individuals were successfully registered. Furthermore, he stated that given the growing crowds of devotees, the bank is currently considering extending the operating hours. Additionally, to maintain order and manage the flow, only 20 people are being allowed inside the bank premises at a time. Considering the hot weather, arrangements for drinking water have also been made for the devotees. The bank management anticipates that the crowds will remain heavy over the next couple of days; consequently, efforts are being made to enhance security measures and further streamline the arrangements.
