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| The power of Bum Bum Bhole… | | | | When there is a din you can not hear all what you mean to hear. The beginning and culmination of holy pilgrimage to cave shrine of Shri Amarnath ji in South Kashmir Himalayas has always been a keenly awaited auspicious occasion. It has an utmost significance not only in Jammu and Kashmir but also across the country where Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine is revered with equal respect. The two-month long pilgrimage ended with the arrival of holy mace at the cave shrine on Friday where special prayers were held for peace and prosperity in the country. This year’s pilgrimage surpassed all previous records of pilgrim influx. Despite a wide ranging rage and tension, protests and demonstrations first in Kashmir Valley and then in Jammu region, nothing could deter the pilgrims from paying obeisance at the cave shrine. There were also militant attacks and a huge amount of inconvenience to the pilgrims due to ongoing agitation. The weather vagaries also played their own natural role at various points in time during the pilgrimage. We still remember, very recently more than 200 pilgrims had a narrow escape at Baltal base camp when there was adversely bad weather. Despite all these troubles –physical and psychological –the pilgrims drawn from across the country continued to pour in trek uphill day after day. Official figures released by the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board say that 5.30 lakh pilgrims paid obeisance at the cave shrine. These are those people who got themselves registered with the board for having darshans. Unofficial reports, however, say that more than seven lakh pilgrims visited the cave shrine. This is the highest number of pilgrims having visited the shrine so far. Earlier the 4.30 lakh pilgrims had visited the shrine 2004. One may note here that whenever there had been any kind of trouble in conduct of pilgrimage to Shri Amarnath Shrine, the pilgrims from across the country have shown more enthusiasm in visiting the shrine. In 2004, there was a running trouble between the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board and the Government on duration of pilgrimage. Finally it was fixed up for 45 days. This year what all happened to the pilgrimage is evident to all and then it is not surprising that pilgrims surpassed all previous records. This is perhaps the power of Bum Bum Bhole. One can say with authority that none of us had ever chanted or heard anyone chanting Bum Bum Bhole as many times as we heard this in past month and half. All one can hope is that the original glory, respect and dignity of the pilgrimage is restored –the sooner, the better. |
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