Avtar Bhat
SRINAGAR/JAMMU, July 11: The terrorists who attacked a yatri bus at Anantnag yesterday killing seven pilgrims and injuring 21 others have failed to dampen the spirits of the Amarnath yatris coming for darshan of holy cave from different parts of the country as about 11,000 pilgrims paid obeisance to the holy Ice Lingam in the cave shrine today.
Undeterred by the terrorist threat and yesterday’s dastardly act, a fresh batch of about 11,000 pilgrims also left for the holy cave from the twin base camps of Baltal, Sonamarg and Nunwan, Pahalgam early this morning, an official spokesman told Excelsior.
He said since the 40 day yatra started on June 29, so far 1,56,618 pilgrims had performed darshan at holy cave. By this evening, 10,926 devotees paid obeisance at holy cave, he added.
He said the yatra is picking up and the pilgrims are high in spirits as 3289 yatris left for holy cave early this morning from the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas, Jammu in a cavalcade of 105 vehicles under tight security arrangements. There is a tremendous enthusiasm among the pilgrims and they say that militant attacks can’t dampen their spirits.
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The spokesman said 4838 pilgrims left for darshan of holy cave from Baltal base camp via shortest 14 km Dumel track while 5811 pilgrims left from Nunwan Pahalgam base camp via traditional Chandanwari-Sheshnag track for holy cave.
The yatris who had a night halt at Sheshnag and Panchtarni also left for their onwards sojourn today.
The rush of pilgrims is increasing as over 1500 had managed to reach Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas by this evening to leave for twin base camps early tomorrow morning.
“We are determined to leave for holy cave and no body can harm us till ‘Bholey Baba’ is with us”, said Ram Kumar, a pilgrim from Jabalpur, Rajasthan who reached Jammu along with his family and friends to leave for darshan of holy cave tomorrow.
“The terrorists will not succeed in discouraging us this way and if they think like that they are totally mistaken”, he said, adding that large number of pilgrims will come for darshan as ‘Bholey Nath’ is matter of faith for Hindus from immemorial times.
Meanwhile, an undeterred pilgrim at Nunwan base camp while starting his journey to holy cave by tying a piece of saffron cloth to his head and with a prayer on his lips, today said there was only solution to terrorism in Kashmir — and that was to visit the State over and over again.
Among a group of five men from Madhya Pradesh on a trek to the holy shrine, the Shiva devotee said they would continue with the journey despite a terrorist attack yesterday on a group of pilgrims, in which seven people were killed and 21 injured.
“Bhole nath ki kripa rahi to agley saal phir ayengay (If Lord Shiva wants it, we will be back next year),” the pilgrims said when asked if they were going to turn back after the firing in Anantnag district.
The men, between 40 and 55 years of age, started their two-day trek to the 3880-metre high cave shrine in the south Kashmir Himalayas from the Nunwan Base camp here early this morning, less than 10 hours after the incident.
The group chanted ‘Bum Bum Bhole’ (hailing Lord Shiva) as they walked to the shrine, known for its naturally formed ice-lingam, revered by Shiva devotees.
An example of Hindu-Muslim harmony for more than a century now, legend has it that the cave was discovered by a local Muslim shepherd, Buta Malik, when he had taken his flock for grazing to the higher reaches of the South Kashmir Himalayas.
Pilgrim Sanjay Kumar, the youngest in the group, said though he felt for the victims of the attack, he also believed in destiny.
“Matters of life and death are in the hands of the Lord. We just follow the path he puts us on,” he said.
Another group member said the way “to defeat the terrorists” was by frequently visiting Kashmir.
“This will help foster a better understanding between the locals and people from the rest of the country while isolating the elements inimical to peace,” the pilgrim added.
Kumar said they were happy with the arrangements made by the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board and the local authorities, including security officials, for the yatra.
“The people of Kashmir are good but you cannot always stop terrorists who are on a suicide mission,” Kumar, who works in a bank, said.
He said he and his friends had not made plans to join this year’s yatra, but had suddenly decided to sign up for the pilgrimage.
“Nothing can explain our being here and setting off for the final phases of the yatra except that it was the call from the lord. And if he calls us again, we would love to be here next year,” he added.
The five companions were among the 19000 pilgrims who left the base camps at Pahalgam and Baltal for the shrine this morning.
“The yatra is progressing smoothly and the terror attack has not dampened the spirits of the pilgrims,” an official of the Shrine Board said in Srinagar.
Meanwhile, security has been beefed up along the routes leading to the Pahalgam and Baltal base camps in Anantnag and Ganderbal districts respectively.
Additional police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed along the way to the shrine, a police official said.
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