Amid shouts of 'Bam Bam Bhole', the traditional cry hailing God Shiva, the first batch of more than 2,500 pilgrims left early Monday morning for this year's annual pilgrimage to the cave shrine of Amarnath in Jammu and Kashmir.

Pilgrims from various parts of the country, especially Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana moved in 73 vehicles - 43 buses and 30 light motors - on their nearly 400 km journey from Jammu to Baltal.