*Visiting pilgrims laud arrangements, role of Army
Sanjeev Sharma
JAMMU, Aug 2: Attired in different dresses, speaking different languages and displaying different cultures and looks, the visiting Amarnath pilgrims of the ongoing annual pilgrimage have thronged Jammu from across the country and their stay here has turned many parts of the city into “mini-India”.
“I have seen a rare glimpse of whole of India at this place as pilgrims from Rajasthan, Gujarat, Odisha and many other parts of the country are staying with us here and are preparing for their onwards journey to Kashmir for the pilgrimage,” said Devnath, 47, from Chhattisgarh, who was performing Amarnath pilgrimage for the first time and was staying at Bhagwati Nagar based base camp of the pilgrimage.
He further said that right from the day he entered J&K for the pilgrimage, nowhere he felt anything like terrorism so far.
Similar were the views of Durgesh Dhurve, 35, a businessman from Nagpur who was preparing for the pilgrimage for the second time along with his wife.
Some more pilgrims lauded the arrangements put in place for them and praised the Army for cooperation.
They said: “Our undeterred faith on Lord Shiva strengthens us to face all odds like inclement weather etc during the pilgrimage.”
Though unable to go for the pilgrimage, yet Liliben, 67, from Morbi in Gujarat along with her sister Lavuben, 69, had all praises for “excellent” arrangement put in place for the visiting pilgrims at Guru Ravi Dass Temple in Krishna Nagar, where they were staying for the last three days.
Both the sisters were only familiar with Gujarati language and were unable to converse in Hindi but Liliben’s son accompanying them helped them in this regard.
“My son accompanying us was not physically fit for the pilgrimage and doctors asked him to avoid the mountainous travel,” Liliben said adding that without him they can’t travel so far.
“Anyhow, we visited a Shiva temple at Canal Road, Jammu and rejoiced company of people from across the country here,” she maintained.
“If we are unable to trek the high mountain of Shiva, just allow us to its base and we will bow our heads to Lord Shiva from there itself,” Lavuben said.
Though he visited Jammu earlier but Somyaranjan Behra, 35, an accountant from Cuttack, Odisha was performing Amarnath pilgrimage for the first time and he found situation here not different from rest of the country.
Lauding the Army personnel he said that even at late night hours these people properly guide the pilgrims and also help them.
Behra claimed that the process of registration of pilgrims and the Yatra Card type facilities are rare here as at many pilgrimage places in the country such things are non-existent.
Fifteen years old Ritika Raj, a college student from Nawada, Bihar informed that she was going for Amarnath pilgrimage for the first time though she paid obeisance at the revered shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji earlier during her visit to Jammu with her parents.
She too was excited on witnessing people from diverse lands and cultures, speaking different languages and diversely dressed at the base camp of Yatra in Jammu.
Similar views were echoed by Jethmal, 66, a temple priest from Bikaner (Rajasthan) who said that he will be leaving for Kashmir Himalayas on August 4, 2023 to pay obeisance at Icelingam.
Some vendors at the base camp claimed that the number of visiting pilgrims has reduced due to floods and heavy rains across the country.
Many organisations in Jammu have installed Langars at different places to serve the visiting pilgrims who are continuously reaching Jammu from across the country using air, train and road services.
Most of these pilgrims are accommodated at various community halls of Jammu as well as at base camp of the Yatra in Bhagwati Nagar.
It is pertinent to mention here that the 62 day annual Amarnath pilgrimage this year started on July 1 and will culminate on August 31.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
