Thousands Of Hindu Pilgrims Take Part In Amarnath Yatra

BALTAL, INDIA - JUNE 30: An Indian Army soldier directs Hindu pilgrims and their Kashmiri guides, as they make their pilgrimage to the sacred Amarnath Cave, one of the most revered Hindu shrines, on June 30, 2012 near Baltal, Kashmir, India. Hindu devotees brave sub-zero temperatures to hike over glaciers and high altitude mountain passes to reach the sacred Amarnath cave, which houses an ice stalagmite, a stylized phallus, worshiped by Hindus as a symbol of the god Shiva. More than 700,000 Hindu pilgrims are expected to take part in this year's two-month pilgrimage, according to local officials, causing strain on the environment and political stability of the region, which has long fought for independence from India. (Photo by Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images)