A month-long Hindu pilgrimage, the Amarnath Yatra, commenced Thursday in Indian-occupied Kashmir, drawing heightened security measures from Indian authorities. The pilgrimage, which draws hundreds of thousands of devotees to a sacred ice cave, is taking place near Pahalgam, the site of a deadly April attack that killed 26 mostly Hindu tourists.

New Delhi blamed the attack on Pakistan, an allegation Pakistan denied, leading to a four-day conflict between the two nuclear-armed nations in May.

This year, approximately 45,000 Indian troops, equipped with high-tech surveillance tools including facial recognition cameras, are safeguarding the pilgrimage route. Pilgrims are registered, travel in guarded convoys, and their locations are tracked via electronic radio cards. The increased security measures, including fortified base camps and camouflaged bunkers along the route, aim to ensure a safe and smooth pilgrimage for the devotees.

Despite the heightened security and the recent conflict, many pilgrims expressed a lack of fear, citing the strong military presence. However, Indian officials acknowledge a 10 percent decrease in pilgrim registration this year. The Amarnath Yatra, once a small local event, has grown significantly in recent years, becoming a major event heavily promoted by the Indian government. While those opposed to Indian rule in Kashmir have stated the pilgrimage is not a target, they have warned against its use to assert Hindu dominance.

The pilgrimage will continue until August h. Investigations into the April attack are ongoing, with Indian authorities having arrested two individuals for allegedly aiding the perpetrators.