Kashmir is famous for certain things while some of them are widely known and have so far been appreciated by the people from all across the globe. A few among them that could be witnessed in Kashmir include hospitality and communal brotherhood.
History is testimony to the fact that Kashmiris have always sent a heart-warming message to the world when it comes to hospitality by setting examples that are written with golden words and the events can never be erased from the hearts and minds of the people from outside Jammu and Kashmir.
Similarly, in last several decades, the Muslim population here has been remaining on the forefront to welcome and assist the pilgrims of Amarnath Yatra annually.
The Muslims affiliated with different employment including Ponywals, hoteliers and others have been serving these yatries with devotion. They don’t only earn their livelihood during the annual pilgrimage, but it has been witnessed that they also come up with the Langars at different places to assist the pilgrims and have also remained ready to serve them in any situation.
Kashmir has always played a pivotal role in ensuring smooth conduct of the pilgrimage. The reports available are ample proof that the religious organizations too had been appealing to people to do everything to ensure that it passes off peacefully.
It is notable to mention here that in 2019, the yatra was cancelled midway in wake of the abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of J&K State into two Union Territories on August 05. However, the yatra was cancelled for two successive years in wake of the deadly Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021.
This year there is a possibility of an increase in the number of pilgrims as the pilgrimage is being conducted for the first time in the last three years and thus yet again it stands the responsibility of Kashmiris to brace up well on time to ensure that the pilgrimage passes off peacefully.
Some people with the vested interests are already out to defame the Muslims and Kashmiris as well, therefore at this juncture, the whole society including the traders, hoteliers, restaurant owners, pony walas, civil society, NGOs and others should work in tandem to ensure peaceful culmination of yatra.
The society has to defeat the ill-designs of anti-Kashmiri elements and show the world that the people here are respectable and peace loving like the other parts of the globe.
