Thousands of chanting devotees from across India began trekking up through Himalayan passes in restive Indian-administered Kashmir at the start of a huge pilgrimage accompanied by a major security operation. Authorities expect around a million people to take part in a pilgrimage to the cave shrine at 3,900 meters (12,800 feet) containing a holy stalagmite over the coming 43 days. The procession, which sees pilgrims trek uphill for several days or be transported by donkey or helicopter did not take place for two years because of the pandemic. Devotees chanted religious hymns as tens of thousands of Indian soldiers guarded the twin routes of Pahalgam and Baltal leading to the shrine to the Hindu god Shiva. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES