Overview

• The annual Amarnath Yatra has drawn hundreds of thousands of devotees to the 3,888-meter cave shrine in Jammu and Kashmir at the height of the Sawan pilgrimage.
• Inside the cave a naturally formed ice Shivling emerges from dripping water and swells in size at full moon, embodying the divine presence of Lord Shiva.
• Devotees report fleeting sightings of two white pigeons near the ice lingam, honoring an age-old legend of immortal birds gifted by Lord Shiva.
• Security forces have documented and shared photos and videos of the birds on social media, fueling both devotion and curiosity among pilgrims.
• Some scientists and observers argue the pigeons are ordinary local birds attracted by the cave’s damp environment rather than a supernatural sign.