Opinion | Amarnath Yatra & Kashmiriyat!

The Amarnath Yatra is a beautiful blend of unparalleled examples of communal harmony and brotherhood where both the communities get an opportunity to interact with each other and take forward  the concept of Kashmiriyat. Kashmir is such a paradise (Jannat) where Kashmiriyat always flourished. Kashmir due to the existence of Kashmiriyat has become another name of tolerance and co- existence and inclusiveness.  Kashmiriyat stresses upon the universal values such as peace, harmony, love and fraternity between all creatures of God, irrespective of a belief in a particular religion. Owing to inherent universal appeal, shrines grew into popular places of pilgrimage for both Muslims and Pandits, bringing them together in common participation at shrine rituals as well as in helping to build bridges between people of different castes and faith, thereby contributing to communal harmony. Great Poetess of Kashmir Lal Ded has rightly said:  “Shiva (God) abides in all that is everywhere, so do not discriminate between a Hindu and a Muslim. If you are wise, seek the Absolute within yourself. That is true knowledge of the Lord”.

Saints, Sufis and Rishis of Kashmir have taught Kashmiris how to live together and be helpful to each other. The security for the yatra has always been the duty of the whole Kashmiri society. The message Islam conveys is to take care of the people associated with other faiths as well. Hence Islam has made us duty bound  to perform  our responsibilities as asked.  The Amarnath Yatra is being conducted by the people of Kashmir  as these are the ones  who provide every assistance to the Pilgrims. Since ages we the people  of Kashmir have been living with brotherhood with the  people of other faiths. We welcome and celebrate the pilgrimage of any community in Kashmir belonging to any faith. The annual Amarnath Yatra  is  welcomed in every possible  way and during  the ongoing Yatra the whole world saw how Kashmiris welcomed  the Yatris. When there is any special day for Hindus, Muslims show their enthusiastic  presence and  similarly when it is Muslims celebration  Hindus participate in it. Whenever anything  happens  to disrupt  the traditional harmony, Kashmiri Muslims  come out openly to condemn  the acts of hate.  People from all communities participate in all festivals irrespective of their religion. This sends a message to the world that we should live together with peace.

The message of love and brotherhood needs to be promoted so that the gap caused due to interference of enemies of humanity between the two communities can be filled. So far tens and thousands of pilgrims had the ‘darshan’ of the ‘Shivlingam’. The yatra strengthens the bonds between Hindus and Muslims therefore it needs to be taken forward in every circumstance.

Whole world watches how local muslims carry weak and disabled pilgrims on palanquins and horse backs to the cave. These pictures send a clear massage all over the world that Kashmir is a real paradise on earth. This is Kashmiriyat, more beautiful than Kashmir itself.

– The writer can be reached on syedjahnzeeb1983@gmail.com