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The 1999
Yatra - A Retrospective
It
was a war-clouded yatra last time. The pilgrims' vehicles had police
escort from Jammu in view of the conflagration at the border and a spurt
in militancy. There were doubts in the beginning but the traffic picked
up gradually. As the rush started, pilgrims had to wait a few days for
their turn to join the yatra. Serpentine queues were seen for last-minute
registration, especially as unscrupulous travel agents misled the hopeful
yatris on registration requirements and overbooked trips to Jammu for
a fast buck. Funds were also collected in different parts of the country
by instant organisations.
The Jammu
and Kashmir Government regulated the flow of yatris to the holy cave
at the rate of 2,500 pilgrims per day. It had set up rented accommodations
along the routes and provided beds and blankets at reasonable rates.
The regulations follow a calamity that befell yatris a few years ago.
Hundreds of people died in rain and avalanches then. Lakhs used to rush
for the cave but now the regulated figure is 75,000 per season. The
rush used to be especially uncontrollable during the auspicious Poornima
day.
Last year
the yatra began by the end of July and ended on August 26 with the arrival
of the Chhari Mubarak, the holy mace of Lord Shiva, at the cave. By
this time 1.07 lakh pilgrims from various parts of the country had paid
their obeisance. Registration had begun a month in advance. Initially
the response was dull due to the border war with Pakistan, but the pilgrimage
picked up and then trekking went on smoothly except for the usual minor
mishaps of landslides and road accidents. The Baltal route via Sonamarg
was also opened but pilgrims preferred the traditional route.
The yatra
was by and large a disappointment last time for another reason: The
lingam did not assume its size and shape! It was not visible for most
part of the season. Probably, it would have been melting away in high
temperature. The snowfall was also very low. Best of luck this time!
-India
Overseas
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