Opinion | Sirathani Bernate Boniyar-A Place Where You Find Peace Of Mind.

Hazrat Baba Sakhi Dathi (R.A.) Follower of Shahi Hamdan (R.A.) Sufism.

The History of Sufism in Kashmir is Spread over a long Period of time starting from Bulbul Shah to the Sufi Poets. Sufi Saints are Still Inspiring People of Kashmir by their Subtle Mystical Insights.
Sufism Came to Kashmir after the Emergence of Khanqahs and Silsilas had taken form at various Places in the Islamic World. Though almost Simultaneously with the Foundation of Muslim Rule in Kashmir (720/1320), Sufism was introduced there. Still there are Evidences that Islam had made its inroads Long before the Establishment of Muslim Rule in Kashmir. But there is no doubt that the Systematic and Well-Organized Sufi Activities began only towards the end of the Fourteenth Century. Hence forward Sufis Like Sayyid Ali Hamadani, Mir Muhammad, Saiyid Jamaluddin Bukhari and Saiyid Ismail Shami began to Enter Kashmir in Quick Succession.
A different trend, which emerged after the coming of the Sufis from Persia and Central Asia, was the crude synchronized form of it, which came to force with the development of an indigenous Sufi order known as the Rishism.
It is believed that there is a Sufi Saint in Sirathani Bernate a Follower of Shahi Hamdan (R.A.), Whose Name is Hazrat Baba Sakhi Datti (R.A.).It is also believed that Brother of this Sofi Saint is Laid rested on Top of Manandar Banali Boniyar Gamous With Local household Name Lohapeer,their Sister. The Name of this Place is Sirathani Bernate Boniyar Which is Located at a Distance of about 20 Kilometers from Boniyar. To reach this Place one has to pass through Village Batangi and Village Bernate. It is very good for trekking. From Bernate You can go for about 3.5 Kilometres on Foot or on Horse. The Footpath is in the Middle of beautiful Pine Forests. Walking in these forests gives a Person a different Peace of Mind. When You reach there, You will feel a Peaceful Life. A Small Mosque has also been built here for Offering Prayers. There are also Shops Where You can get every single thing. Apart from this, the Management Committee of the Pilgrimage has arranged Overnight Stays for the Pilgrims Where You can Pay Some Rent and Spend the Night there. There is a Huge Field here. From Where You Can Sit and See the Mountains of Kazinag and Gulmarg.All the Readers are requested to Visit this Place to Promote Local Tourism.
A Citizen Namely Iqbal Ahmad Sood Resident of Bernate told that the Pilgrimage to this Sarathani Bernate is held on Thursday Night and on Saturdays People Come in Large Numbers to Stay there and Explore the Beauties of this Place. We Can Tour this Place on a Private Level to Promote Local Business and Work for the Horse Owners here and Business of Local Makki Roti and Kashmiri Tea (Noon Chai) Vendors Can be Promoted Like Doodhpathri.We Can also go from Trikanjan, Banali and Nowshera to reach this Place.We Can also go to Choorkhudan, Kramthalan and Gulmarg from there. In Places Where there is more Human Intervention there are more Chances of Polythene Pollution around. It is My request to Visitors and the Managemen Committee of Sirathani Ziyarat to Use Less Polythene here So that the Beauty of this Place Remains Intact.

Mukhtar Ahmad Qureshi
Mukhtar.qur@gmail.com