Amarnath Yatra Begins

Posted by Harsh Nevatia Jun 16, 2008

The first batch of pilgrims is on their way to the Amarnath cave. I wish this was not so. There are certain sites in the Himalayan regions that are suffering extensive ecological damage. One of the reasons is that these sites cannot absorb the increasing influx of pilgrims. Amarnath, Gangotri and Kailash Mansarovar are some of them. The ice Shiva ling at Amarnath has been naturally made for centuries. In 2006 the priests patched up the Shiva ling with ice because the naturally made Shiva ling was found to be much smaller in size that year. This created a furor, but for the priests it had been a damned if you do and damned if you don’t choice. Nothing was reported last year but this does not mean nothing untoward happened. Lessons have to be learnt and pilgrimages to Amarnath have to be stopped otherwise we fill find that the natural Shiva ling will become smaller and smaller in successive years.

There are those who disagree and their argument needs to be stated for the purpose of fairness. They believe that the major cause of the damage is the universal global warming over which India has no control. The contribution of the pilgrims to the local warming of these areas is insignificant. Hence they feel that the pilgrims cannot be deprived of their right to worship at these places.

How significant or insignificant is the contribution of the pilgrims cannot be easily assessed. But no chances should be taken. I suggest that the pilgrimages be stopped for 5 years. If the damage continues unabated then the situation may be reviewed. In this context the Chinese stopping the pilgrimage to Mansarovar over the issue of Tibet may be viewed as a blessing in disguise.