Amarnath Yatra: A Celebration Of Togetherness

News18

14-07-2025

Last Updated:
The Amarnath Yatra symbolises Kashmir's communal harmony, with Muslims from Anantnag and Ganderbal districts supporting the pilgrimage, showcasing unity and shared spirituality
What makes the Amarnath Yatra truly special is not just its spiritual significance but the deeply rooted tradition of communal harmony that has defined it for centuries.
Long before logistics were formalised or security arrangements deployed, the Amarnath Yatra was a celebration of togetherness. Muslims of Kashmir, particularly from Anantnag and Ganderbal districts, have for generations played a key role in facilitating this sacred pilgrimage.
They have set up langars (community kitchens), provided pony services and accommodation, and offered tea, food, and even emotional support to yatris with unmatched warmth. I still remember, as a child growing up in the lush green meadows of Kashmir, how the pilgrimage was a festival in itself.
Our Pandit neighbours, especially my dear friend Kachru, would prepare weeks in advance. Three times I accompanied Kachru and other Pandit friends, along with a group of Muslim villagers, on foot to the holy cave.
We would set up our small base camp just ahead of Chandanwari, serving salt tea, makki ki roti, and heartfelt hospitality to passing pilgrims. It wasn't just a ritual – it was a way of life.
We were different in faith but united in our reverence. Sikhs, too, played an important role in this multi-faith support system, offering assistance with logistics, food, and medical care.
The Valley resonated with a rare spiritual democracy where religion was a path to God, not a wall between humans. The spirit of Kashmiriyat – a centuries-old ethos of mutual respect, cultural syncretism, and peaceful coexistence – finds a divine expression in the Amarnath Yatra.
Even today, local Muslim communities organise free service stalls, provide medical aid, guide lost pilgrims, and rescue those caught in inclement weather. They treat it as their own, for it is deeply embedded in their memory, soil, and identity.
And this is not a political statement – it is an emotional, cultural, and human truth. This shared pilgrimage is vital not just for religious reasons but to reclaim the lost harmony of the Valley. Every act of shared kindness on the yatra route heals a part of our wounded history.
Each year, thousands of pilgrims traverse treacherous mountains and glacial valleys to glimpse the sacred ice formation that looks like a shivling inside the caves. At a time when polarisation dominates public discourse, the yatra offers a powerful counter-narrative.
It reminds us that India's strength lies not in uniformity, but in unity within diversity. Every Indian, regardless of their faith, should undertake this yatra at least once in their lifetime – not only to witness the majesty of the shivling but to experience the brotherhood, resilience, and harmony that make Kashmir the crown of India.
Let us not see the yatra only through a religious lens. Let us walk those paths with the soul of a seeker and the heart of a brother.
Just as Muslims of the Valley have nurtured this pilgrimage for generations, people across India – Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Jains, Buddhists – should embrace this spiritual tradition as a shared civilisational treasure. When a Muslim offers a cup of namkeen chai to a tired pilgrim at 12,000 feet, or when a Hindu ties a sacred thread at the cave with tears in their eyes, or when a Sikh drives pilgrims across treacherous mountain roads – it is not just a service. It is Bharat, living and breathing in its purest form.
The Amarnath Yatra is a symbol of Kashmir's composite culture. It is the story of me and Kachru, makki roti and salt tea, of snow-capped shrines and warm-hearted villagers. It is a tale that must be retold to every Indian.
Let every citizen of this land take part in this great spiritual journey. Let us walk the path not only to the holy caves but towards a future where faith becomes a bridge, not a barrier.
(Sheikh Khalid is a Kashmir-based columnist-author, and is presently heading the International Centre for Peace Studies. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views)
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