Sanjeev K Sharma
JAMMU, July 22: The ongoing annual pilgrimage of Shri Amarnath Ji to the mountainous Kashmir has blessed the business class of Jammu to rejoice the increased profits as the enthusiastic pilgrims are making certain purchases from different markets in the City of Temples (popular name for Jammu) while the world famed shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji in Katra has also received a good number of visiting Amarnath pilgrims which has positively impacted the economy there.
An extraordinary rush of visiting pilgrims is seen these days at prominent markets of Jammu including that of Railway Station, the busy Raghunath Bazar and Hari Market to name a few where these pilgrims are attracted by the beautifully decorated dry fruits and other items on display at various shops.
Not only the attractive shops and showrooms but the ordinary auto-rickshaw driver is also having more passengers to ferry these days while at certain roadside eateries the visiting pilgrims can be easily identified from their different looks, dresses and tone of speaking Hindi.
“As the Amarnath pilgrims are visiting our market daily these days, the tourist related business like that of dry fruits, shawls, sarees etc is benefitting and even small shopkeepers is earning good profits,” Sanjay Gupta-president Raghunath Bazar Traders informed adding: “Most of this benefit is because of the base camp of the Yatra being in Bhagwati Nagar but had it be at the JDA Complex of Bus Stand, most of which is vacant presently, the pilgrims would have a chance to visit the old Jammu city and markets there easily.”
Similarly views were expressed by Vishwa Mittar Gupta, president Railway Station Market in Jammu who informed that the pilgrimage has benefitted them a lot in the ongoing season.
“Our business has almost doubled and all of us are earning good profits these days because of Amarnath Yatra,” he said.
Taking a dig at the shopkeepers selling substandard dry fruits to the visiting pilgrims, Vishwa Mittar said that such businesspersons are playing a suicidal game with themselves only while those making fair deals are easily flourishing.
Raskesh Wazir, president Katra Hotels and Restaurants Association informed that a portion of Amarnath pilgrims are visiting Katra to pay obeisance at the revered cave shrine in Trikuta Hills.
“About 15 per cent visitors at Katra hotels have increased during the Amarnath pilgrimage this year,” he informed.
Rakesh Roshan, a dry-fruit shopkeeper at Katra market said, though the footfall of pilgrims at the holy town has increased because of the Amarnath pilgrimage but the increase was not what they expected.
He said that walnut remains the priority dry fruit for the visiting pilgrims to buy.
When contacted, Arun Gupta, president Chamber of Industry and Commerce (CCI) Jammu said that the arrangements for the Amarnath pilgrimage were remarkable this time and the visiting pilgrims faced least problems as almost all the work like that of registration etc has been computerised.
“As I observed more of the pilgrims reached Kashmir directly as their registration was already done online because of which only a few pilgrims arrived at Jammu,” he maintained adding: “Jammu business class always expected good business season from the Amarnath pilgrimage but this year their expectations were not fully met as many hotels remained empty and crowds in Jammu markets was also not on expected lines.”
He said that the concerned authorities should ensure more avenues for the visiting pilgrims to make their visit memorable.
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