Srinagar, July 3 -- A total of 12,348 devotees, including 9,181 men, 2,223 women, 99 children, 122 sadhus, seven sadhvis, and eight transgender pilgrims, offered prayers at the 3,880-metre-high cave, which houses a naturally formed ice 'Shivling' - a sacred symbol revered by Hindus.

The pilgrimage commenced early in the morning from both the Baltal base camp in Ganderbal and the traditional Nunwan base camp in Anantnag. Pilgrims began their journey along the 14-km Baltal route and the 48-km Pahalgam route, chanting "Bam Bam Bhole" and "Har Har Mahadev" as they moved forward with devotion and determination.

"There's no fear. Baba has blessed us. The arrangements are excellent," said a pilgrim from Gujarat, encouraging others to join the ...