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| Fresh controversy over Amarnath Yatra period | | Editorial | |
With resignation by Deepander Giri, the Chief Mahant of Dashnami
Akhara, Srinagar, the Custodian of the holy mace of Bhagwan Shiva,
carried ceremoniously to the Amarnath Cave Shrine, as an essential
part of the pilgrimage, from the membership of Shri Amarnath Shrine
Board, the controversy over the alleged tampering with the national
formation of snowlingam as well as the prolonging of the period of
yatra is going to get a new lease of life. Those opposed to the
prolonging of yatra for various reasons, having expressed different
concerns against the decision of the SASB to have the yatra for
extended period, have got a new handle to beat the Shrine Board with
and mobilize their campaign against making the yatra to prolong for a
longer period. The opposition to the prolonging of yatra period on the
plea that the same is against the tradition and dilutes the sanctity
of the pilgrimage is myopic. It needs be mentioned that in the past
even Vaishno Devi yatra was limited to the Navratra periods. Making
this Yatra a year around affair has in no way diluted its sanctity nor
has eroded the faith of devotees. Similarly in the case of Amarnath
yatra, it was confined in the past to the Shravan month, since the
facilities for this hazardous yatra were not available for a longer
period. Now with the things having improved and infrastructure
strengthened, the yatra period need be extended for the maximum
possible duration. In fact there have been concerted attempts by some
mischievous elements, for last few years, to scuttle this Hindu yatra
in the high Himalayan Mountains in Kashmir, which is a source of
national integration. While in the earlier years of militancy in
Kashmir, the terrorists threatened the smooth conduct of yatra, but
they failed in their designs with the devotees pouring in large
numbers, undeterred by the repeated terrorist strikes, targeting the
pilgrims. Controversy was also raised over the well advised decision
of the SASB, taken on the persistent demand of the devotees at large
and the people of Jammu, for extension of yatra period to two
months. While on one hand concern about environmental pollution and
disturbance to the ecology by prolonging the period of yatra was
raised, on the other hand heavy rush of pilgrims for a longer period
was prescribed as against the interest of high budget holyday tourism
in Pahalgam in particular and Kashmir valley in general. Even the
government at that time raked up the security concern for not allowing
prolonging of yatra period. However all these obstacles were
surmounted due to the extreme faith and determination of the devotees
and the people at large.
This year, while the government led by Ghulam Nabi Azad fully
cooperated with SASB in having the yatra for two months, the
controversy over tempering with the snow Shivlingam came handy to the
vested interests who are against the promotion of this yatra, with
ulterior motives and who are bent upon keeping the controversy alive
under one pretext or the other. But the deep faith of the devotees has
given appropriate answer to these elements, with the number of
pilgrims not declining on this count this year. Although the natural
formation of snowlingam of Bhagwan Shiva is the motivating force and
main attraction for the pilgrims, but they attach equal importance to
and draw inspiration from the sanctum sanctorum under the cave, where
Shiva gave sermons on universe to his consort Parvati.
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