Lt Governor Manoj Sinha has flagged off the first batch of yatris headed to holy cave of Amarnath from Jammu and the pilgrimage will commence from Saturday, June 29. One of the most ancient pilgrimages in Hinduism, dating back thousands of years, the holy cave itself is mentioned in the Puranas and other scriptures as a place where Lord Shiva revealed the secret of immortality to Parvati. However, modern history of the cave dates back to 19th century when, it is said, a Muslim shepherd received a bag of coal from a holy man (later believed to be Lord Shiva in disguise) which turned into gold coins when he returned home. This led to the discovery of the cave and the beginning of the pilgrimage. Till a decade back, tribe of that shepherd, Malik’s were getting their share from the offerings made by devotees at the cave. However, later the shrine board made some sort of one-time settlement with them.
The Amarnath Yatra has faced challenges over the years due to its remote and rugged location as well as security concerns related to the region’s political instability. There have been instances of terrorist attacks targeting pilgrims, leading to heightened security measures during the pilgrimage season. The UT administration is all set to extend extensive logistical support, including provisions for accommodation, medical facilities, and security arrangements to the yatris and the Kashmiri Muslims, who have always been on the fore front to ensure as smooth pilgrimage, too are ready to host the pilgrims. They always have been and are a part and parcel of this yatra often providing essential services such as accommodation, food, and medical aid to pilgrims.
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Kashmiri Muslims, particularly those who reside along the paths leading to the holy cave, have all along been part of this yatra in multiple capacities. In earlier 19th century only a few devotees, mostly sadhus, would go for the yatra as there were no much modern transport facilities. Elders say that during the pilgrimage if weather turned hostile, Muslims would pray for the safety of these pilgrims. That is what the concept of Kashmiriyat is. It is this concept that one sees common Kashmiri Muslims welcoming the yatris with open arms. Some people misjudge this gesture by bracketing it into economic benefits that pilgrimage provides to the people here. Faith is paramount to economy and it is common Kashmiri Muslims faith to welcome, help and assist everyone, irrespective of caste, creed or religion, who visits their land.
