Amarnath Yatra is one of the most sacred pilgrimages among Hindus. This year also, the Yatra has started. And so have started the attacks on the devotees. I am not sure, when we mention Amarnath, what comes to our minds first: Lord Shiva or the terror attacks?
Amarnath Yatra 2007: Attacks update:
Yatra Begins: July 1, 2007. [Link]
Government Protects
The Amarnath Yatra has been a constant target for Pakistan sponsored militants. Every year, devotees wait for the Yatra to begin so that they could see the living God Amarnath. And every year, the trained militants wait, so that they could strike and kill the maximum possible. The areas which the Yatra touches are in control of the Indian Army; even then the strikes happen.
I won't compare the Amarnath Yatra with the Haj Pilgrimage, where our secular government subsidizes the travel and facilitates the journey, even to the extent of arranging special flights. On the other hand, the fate of Amarnath pilgrims seems to be in the hands of terrorists. In the year 2000, 30 devotees were brutally killed and many others injured. It seems the devotees to the Amarnath Yatra must pass the test of remaining devoted throughout the attacks and obstacles, and then only they will be blessed!
Enigma
Every year, around 4 lakh devotees reach the Amarnath temple which is reported to be 5000 years old. This is held during 45 day season around the festival of Shravani Mela in July-August, coinciding with the Hindu holy month of Shravan.
The mythology is that this is the cave where Lord Shiva told about the secret of life and eternity to His divine consort Parvati. This place holds a very important value to Hindus.
The cave is situated at a height of 4175 m, about 141 km from Srinagar. Devotees generally take the 45 km pilgrimage on foot from town of Pahalgam onwards and cover the journey in 4 to 5 days. Devotees worship the naturally formed (ice) Shiva lingam. They also get to worship the naturally formed representations of Ganesha and Parvati. The Amarnath cave is high and shallow, and extended up to 40 m.
Putting a Full Stop
A poet named Nikhil Parekh has written "Love versus Terrorism", a collection of anti terror poems. [Link]. Anti terrorism books are also finding good market [Link].
I haven't heard of any book in our religion, dealing in anti-terrorism. Have you? It proves that terrorism needs to be tackled in any other way than writing about it. Therefore, I stop.
PS: Let us hope and pray that remaining Amarnath Yatra concludes without any trouble.
