Sacred Amarnath Yatra Sends a Message for Cleanliness

Amarnath Yatra 2025 emerged as a powerful movement for swachhata (cleanliness) and sustainability.

The Amarnath Yatra is a highly significant Hindu pilgrimage undertaken annually to the Amarnath Cave in Jammu and Kashmir, India.

Devotees undertake a challenging trek to the cave, which is located at an altitude of about 3,888 meters in the Himalayas, to worship the sacred ice lingam, a naturally occurring ice formation believed to represent Lord Shiva. Yatra is observed only during July and August when the ice lingam is at its largest.

This year, with over 400 thousand (4 lakh) devotees making the arduous trek to the holy cave in the Himalayas, the Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board, in close coordination with the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Government, placed a strong emphasis on scientific waste management and plastic-free practices to ensure a zero-landfill, eco-friendly journey.

In alignment with the objectives of the Swachh Bharat Mission Urban 2.0, a comprehensive set of initiatives was implemented to ensure a clean, hygienic, and plastic-free environment for pilgrims.

According to the J&K Housing and Urban Development Department, the initiative was driven by a well-structured action plan and executed through seamless coordination among Swachhata Executives, TULIP interns, and volunteers deployed across lodgement centres, langar sites, and Yatra camps.

These personnel promoted waste segregation, discouraged single-use plastics, and spread awareness about sanitation and hygiene. Real-time feedback on sanitation facilities was gathered through QR-coded toilets, while robust waste management systems and extensive awareness campaigns further encouraged pilgrims to maintain cleanliness and dispose of waste responsibly.

Approximately 11.67 metric tons of waste were being generated daily during the Yatra, including 3.67 MT of dry waste and 7.83 MT of wet waste as per the Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board.

Through coordinated efforts, 100% of it is processed through composting and recycling. Wet waste from Jammu’s langars and lodgement centres was processed in 3 organic waste composters, each with a 1-ton capacity. Dry waste found its way to nearby MRFs, ensuring nothing went to landfill unsegregated or untreated.

During the Yatra, waste was collected through a well-planned system of designated bins, including 1,016 twin-bin stations—blue for dry waste and green for wet waste—installed along the Yatra route.

Additionally, separate bins were placed near female toilets for the collection of sanitary waste. 65 garbage collection vehicles, including twin-compartment trucks, ensured smooth, segregated transport to MRFs and compost pits.

To ensure 24×7 cleanliness along the Yatra route, nearly 1,300 Safai Mitras were deployed at various strategic locations. This ensured that all necessary sanitation protocols were in place to support the large number of yatris undertaking the sacred pilgrimage.

In a bold push against single-use plastics, langars eliminated their use. Over 15,000 jute and cloth bags were distributed through 30 kiosks, urging yatris to switch to sustainable alternatives.

Interactive events such as Plastic Lao, Thela Lejao (Bring Plastic and Take a Cloth Bag) and Bin It, Win It, turned awareness sessions into fun, making waste segregation and cloth bag adoption a collective responsibility.

The message against single-use plastics was conveyed through a comprehensive Information, Education & Communication (IEC) campaign, featuring strategic signage, nukkad nataks, and widespread promotion on social media.

To cater to hygiene needs across the pilgrimage route, over 1600 mobile toilets were installed, each cleaned twice daily by designated sanitation teams.

Real-time user feedback via QR codes brought over 20,000 responses, ensuring swift improvements and high service standards. The faecal sludge generated during the Yatra was being collected through 39 de-sludging vehicles and transported to the nearest FSTPs for treatment. 100% of the faecal sludge generated was being treated during the Yatra Resource Recovery in Motion.

The Green Pledge campaign witnessed active participation from over 70,000 devotees, each committing to uphold swachhata and sustainable practices. From engaging pledge walls and selfie booths to the distribution of Swachhata Kits, the initiative turned awareness into action.

Noteworthy individuals, designated as Responsible Yatris and Happy Faces, were honoured and their stories were shared across all channels to set positive examples for fellow pilgrims.

The Amarnath Yatra 2025 transformed faith into action by aligning with the goals of the Swachh Bharat Mission. With zero-waste systems, public engagement, and strong urban participation, it marked a shift towards eco-conscious pilgrimages—inspiring cities nationwide to contribute to the vision of Swachh Bharat.