Do’s and don’ts for Amarnath yatris
K.L. Noatay

THE annual pilgrimage to the holy cave of Amarnath in Kashmir, will take place from July 22 to Aug 22 this year.

The base camp for the pilgrimage has this time been shifted to Nunwan, an isolated forest glade on the left bank of the Lidder river. It is 2 km short of the traditional base camp at Pahalgam. The new venue is being equipped with security arrangements and camping facilities at a proposed cost of nearly Rs 63 crore.

To ensure a safe and memorable pilgrimage, the organisers have specified some do’s and don’ts for the pilgrims.

Be sure of your physical fitness and mental preparedness to face the odds of the arduous trek up to 15000 ft. above msl. Undergo proper medical examination and obtain a fitness certificate, which is compulsory for getting registered for the yatra.

Get yourself registered for the yatra well in time as no one is permitted to undertake the pilgrimage without prior registration. Registration is being done by nearly 80 branches of J&K State Bank in all important cities of India. Keep the registration-cum-identity card on your person all through the movement.

Carry essential woollens like sweaters, trousers, gloves, monkey caps, etc. A windcheater, light raincoat, a sleeping bag or blankets, water-proof shoes which offer a good grip, a small water-proof tent, a torch and extra batteries, a walking stick with a good handgrip and a shoe pincer may also be carried. Women should avoid undertaking the yatra in saree. Dresses like the salwar-kameez or shirt and pant combination are more comfortable.

The yatris may carry some eatables like biscuits, candy, sugar, dry fruit, honey and tinned food. These items are also available with local vendors at reasonable rates. Food and tea to yatris is also provided free of charge by philanthropic groups during the yatra.

Make sure that ponywallahs, helpers, etc, required by you, are hired at the base camp in Nunwan (Pahalgam) or Baltal itself, through the state officers detailed for the purpose at rates fixed by the government. These porters carry a prescribed token. The yatri should keep the said token in his custody till the arrangement lasts.

Make sure that the porters carrying your luggage move with you all the time. Losing sight of them can create inconvenience.

While trekking, keep moving slowly and steadily in an orderly form, as per instructions issued by the yatra officer(s) from time to time.

Feel free to seek help of state officials conducting the yatra in case of any difficulty.

Carry essential cash to meet the expenses on your accommodation at the base or other camps en route to the holy cave and for meeting any unforeseen need.

Yatris can avail themselves of medical facilities provided by the organisers. A medical kit, catering to individual needs, should be carried.

Don’t carry and or consume any alcoholic beverage during the yatra.

Do not overstrain while going on steep gradients. Climb slowly and steadily in easy steps.

Do not sit at points vulnerable to falling stones/snow slides, etc — where notices of warning against stopping are displayed.

Do not overtake others at narrow and difficult stretches of the track.

Some additional suggestions with regard to the participation in the yatra are as follows:-

While in Jammu & Kashmir, the yatris should not discuss politics even amongst themselves. Most Kashmiris, irrespective of their religion, put a common question to all outsiders, "Kaya aap Hindustan se aye hain?" That is a kind gesture, like inquiring a visitor’s welfare. Kashmiris do not mean to say that they are not Hindustanis. The yatris should not feel offended by the query.

Some philanthropic organisations, providing free food, tea, etc, to the yatris tend to discriminate against the porters, accompanying the yatris. Such discrimination is best avoided.

The tents provided to the yatris are sometimes not well stretched or rainwater has not been drained properly from them. The cotton mattresses and woollen blankets placed therein tend to get wet during inclement weather. This lacuna needs to be looked into and removed.

The organisers of community langar and yatris should dispose of used plastic plates, cups and carry bags into waste bins only, so that the slopes along the yatra route are left clean.

Some yatris, especially sadhus, come bare-footed and without the essential woollens. Their religious heads should counsel them about the necessary precautions in this regard.