news details |
|
|
| Hoteliers defend decision on yatra period | | |
Jammu, July 20
Expressing deep concern over decline in Amarnath Yatra, particularly after the bomb blast by the terrorists at Baltal, All Jammu Hotels and Lodges Association has strongly refuted the reason appropriated by some vested interests and anti yatra elements for the phenomenon to the extension of the period of yatra to two months, the hotelier association has defended the decision of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board to extend the period of pilgrimage to two months, to facilitate much larger number of pilgrims to visit and pay obeisance to Bagwan Shiva.
In a meeting of the association held here today under his Chairmanship, President of the association Inderjeet Khajuria listed the reasons for yatra this year not getting the expected momentum due to heavy rains and floods in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Bengal, from where a large number of pilgrims visit the shrine every year. He added that many prospective pilgrims who had made earlier bookings for the visit, cancelled the same due to heavy floods in these parts, disrupting the rail as well as road traffic. The other reason cited by Khajuria for decline in the yatra is a large number of, officially claimed at 50,000 but unofficially estimated to be about one lakh pilgrims, having performed the yatra before its official commencement, leading to early melting of the snow Shiv lingam and the media giving exaggerated publicity to the same creating an impression of yatra having flopped.
Stressing the need for taking measures to protect the ice Shiv lingam against early melting through scientific devices as well as restrictions for the pilgrims against the use heating elements and thronging the cave in a large number at a given time and their over zealous actions in burning incense and even touching the snow lingam and applying vermilion on the same, the association General Secretary Pawan Gupta, laid stress on strict restrictions to be imposed on performance of yatra before its official commencement and observance of strict rules to avoid heat near the cave leading to the early melting of snow Shiv Lingam. In this regard he demanded that the state government and the security forces should fully cooperate with SASB, and should function under its direction during the period. The complaints that it are the relatives of the security forces who have violated all norms, which led to early melting snow Shiv lingam, is a serious one, which needs probe.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
