Latest news with #Kachru
News18
14-07-2025
- General
- News18
Amarnath Yatra: A Celebration Of Togetherness
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) view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Vox
31-03-2025
- Health
- Vox
Get ahead of allergy season this year
is a senior reporter at Vox covering mental health, relationships, wellness, money, home life, and work through the lens of meaningful self-improvement. That sneezy, itchy, watery-eyed time of year has yet again returned: it's allergy season. Seasonal allergies are the body's response to pollen from trees and grass; the immune system releases chemicals, like histamines, leukotrienes, and prostaglandins, which cause all those uncomfortable, familiar symptoms. The best way to combat the unpleasant barrage is to get ahead of them, says Russell Leftwich, a fellow at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology and an adjunct assistant professor of biomedical informatics at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. Since allergy season arrives at roughly the same time every year, Leftwich recommends starting your allergy relief of choice for a few days before pollen levels get too high. (The Weather Channel, AccuWeather, and IQAir provide local pollen monitoring.) If the dizzying variety of drugs at the pharmacy has you confused, here are a few things to know about the most effective types of over-the-counter allergy medications as well as non-pharmaceutical ways to keep your allergies in check. Today, Explained Understand the world with a daily explainer plus the most compelling stories of the day, compiled by news editor Sean Collins. Email (required) Sign Up By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Before heading to the drugstore One of the best ways to alleviate allergy symptoms is to prevent pollen from getting into your body in the first place. This means keeping windows closed and wearing a mask while doing yard work, Leftwich says. If you've been outdoors for a while, change your clothes and wash your face when you get home, says Rita Kachru, the chief of allergy and immunology in the department of medicine at UCLA. Related 4 tips for dealing with a ferocious allergy season Another prevention method includes rinsing your nose with a saline solution: a mixture of baking soda, salt, and distilled or boiled water, Kachru says. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology recommends mixing three tablespoons of iodide-free salt with one teaspoon of baking soda in a small container. Then add one teaspoon of the salt/baking soda mixture to eight ounces of lukewarm distilled or boiled water. You can also buy nasal saline sprays at the drugstore. When to take antihistamines When avoidance strategies aren't totally effective, you can treat your symptoms with over-the-counter allergy medications. One of the major categories of these treatments are antihistamines, which are available in pill, tablet, eye drop, or nasal spray forms. Antihistamines help reduce itchiness and sneezing and are your first line of defense, Kachru says. 'The reason I always start with an antihistamine is because you may just have a day of a high pollen count,' she says, 'and you just need a one-time antihistamine because you're sneezing and you're itchy and you're a little congested.' Kachru and Leftwich suggest opting for long-acting antihistamines — like loratadine (Claritin), cetirizine (Zyrtec), or fexofenadine (Allegra) — over short-acting ones. People can develop a resistance to short-acting antihistamines, like diphenhydramine (Benadryl), very quickly. Plus, Benadryl often makes people sleepy. Both short- and long-acting antihistamines provide relief within 15 to 30 minutes, Kachru says. Take them at the start of the day before you are exposed to pollen. For mild nose itchiness and sneezing, an antihistamine nasal spray, like azelastine (Astepro), might work for you. A common side effect is a metallic taste in the back of the throat, Kachru says. When to try nasal steroid sprays If you're reaching for an antihistamine three to four times a week, Kachru suggests adding a nasal steroid into the mix. Not only do nasal steroids reduce sneezing and itchiness, but they'll help with congestion, too. These include fluticasone (Flonase), budesonide (Benacort), triamcinolone (Nasacort), and mometasone (Nasonex). Nasal steroids do take a few days until you feel the full effects, Kachru says, so don't give up if you don't feel better right away. To properly administer nasal sprays, insert the tip in your nostril and point it toward your ear. A common mistake when using a nasal spray is pointing it straight up your nose. 'It goes up their nose, down their throat and does nothing for them,' Kachru says. 'Or they stick it inwards into their nose, and then they get nosebleeds. … So you want to always make sure that when you put it in, you point it out towards your ear, spray, sniff in, and then do the alternate nostril.' While not a nasal steroid, Kachru advises against using oxymetazoline (Afrin), a nasal spray decongestant. 'Patients who use Afrin regularly end up having really, really severe rebound nasal congestion,' she says. Leftwich advises against decongestants more broadly, as the over-the-counter decongestant medications are not very effective. After a few weeks of daily nasal spray use, you may consider stopping an antihistamine, if you're taking both. 'That's usually what I tell people to do,' Kachru says. 'Eventually just use that antihistamine as needed' because the nasal spray is more effective.
