With the political temperature in J&K higher than the highest, will this year’s
Amarnath Yatra be “event” free? This is the question that has become
nightmare for all the government officials engaged with this annual juggernaut.
As summer approaches and snow in the Himalayas starts to melt, the socio-
political temperature in Indian-controlled Kashmir also rises. An issue that
sparked tensions in the past is how to handle the annual Hindu pilgrimage to
Amarnath.
It looks like this year will be no different, with Hindu nationalists complaining
they are not being given enough time for their pilgrimage to Amarnath, an
ancient cave shrine located in the Himalayas of the predominantly Muslim
region of Kashmir.
Late last month, the government announced that the annual Amarnath yatra or
pilgrimage will be curtailed to 39 days this year, down from last year’s 46 days
and the usual 60 days. Authorities cited weather and logistical constraints.
The aim of the 32-kilometer trek is to pray before a giant ice stalagmite in
the cave that resembles the linga, a Hindu devotional statue associated with
God Shiva. The pilgrimage to Amarnath is one of the oldest in the world, with
historical references dating back more than 2,000 years. Tensions between
Hindus and Muslims in the region in recent years, however, have made it a
politically-sensitive ritual.
Like last year, Hindu right-wing activists are again up in arms protesting against
the move to reduce the duration of the yatra further. This time around,
however, the authorities seem to be playing their cards tactfully.
The government-run Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board was surprisingly transparent
about disclosing how it decided when the pilgrimage would start and the
duration it would last for. It set up a committee headed by Hindu spiritual
guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and then successfully convinced it to recommend
commencing the pilgrimage on June 25 and end on Aug. 2.
The board cited infrastructural constraints and difficulties in clearing the
arduous trek of heavy snow before the last week of June. It can now claim that
the dates were fixed only on the basis of the committee’s recommendations.
New Delhi, March 13: With the political temperature in J&K higher than the highest, will this year’sAmarnath Yatra be “event” free? This is the question that has becomenightmare for all the government officials engaged with this annual juggernaut.
As summer approaches and snow in the Himalayas starts to melt, the socio-political temperature in Indian-controlled Kashmir also rises. An issue thatsparked tensions in the past is how to handle the annual Hindu pilgrimage toAmarnath.
It looks like this year will be no different, with Hindu nationalists complainingthey are not being given enough time for their pilgrimage to Amarnath, anancient cave shrine located in the Himalayas of the predominantly Muslimregion of Kashmir.
Late last month, the government announced that the annual Amarnath yatra orpilgrimage will be curtailed to 39 days this year, down from last year’s 46 daysand the usual 60 days. Authorities cited weather and logistical constraints.
The aim of the 32-kilometer trek is to pray before a giant ice stalagmite inthe cave that resembles the linga, a Hindu devotional statue associated withGod Shiva. The pilgrimage to Amarnath is one of the oldest in the world, withhistorical references dating back more than 2,000 years. Tensions betweenHindus and Muslims in the region in recent years,however, have made it apolitically-sensitive ritual.
Like last year, Hindu right-wing activists are again up in arms protesting againstthe move to reduce the duration of the yatra further. This time around,however, the authorities seem to be playing their cards tactfully.
The government-run Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board was surprisingly transparentabout disclosing how it decided when the pilgrimage would start and theduration it would last for. It set up a committee headed by Hindu spiritualguru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and then successfully convinced it to recommendcommencing the pilgrimage on June 25 and end on Aug. 2.
The board cited infrastructural constraints and difficulties in clearing the arduous trek of heavy snow before the last week of June. It can now claim thatthe dates were fixed only on the basis of the committee’s recommendations.
