Intro: The Kashmiri Pundits have condemned the attitude of the Omar Government towards them.
For cancelling Kousar Nag pilgrimage, the Omar Abdullah Government which declared the Yatra to be of religious significance for Hindus earlier, later on cancelled the yatra. Reports suggest that the decision to withdraw permission for the yatra was taken after shutdown and demonstrations called by separatists.
Kausar Nag, a virgin glacial spring, is nestled in Pirpanjal mountain range in Shopian district of South Kashmir. As part of pilgrimage, devotees reach Kausar Nag on Nag Panchami and hold a six-day puja and then return back.
Other than being an issue of governance, the Kashmiri Pundits, who are a minority in the Valley have criticised the Jammu and Kashmir Government for buckling under separatist pressure. They said, Banning Kousar Nag pilgrimage from Kashmir side is a setback for the Hindus of Kashmir Valley who witnessed a series of exodus from the Valley due to Islamic terrorism and sectarian atmosphere and this move will have impact on the resettlement of Hindus in Valley. Cancelling the Yatra is being viewed as a move to suppress the minority Hindus in the Valley, and is being perceived as an imposition of separitists ideology on whole of J&K.
Geographically, Kousar Nag is a lake located in the Pir Panjal range of Himalaya and falls into Kulgam district of Kashmir region of J&K. Historically, one can find Kousar Nag Yatra mentioned in the ‘Rajtarangini’; the written history of J&K. Kashmiri Pundits say that yatra is a part of their culture and they have been going to this place from the times immemorial.
Kousar Nag pilgrimage is taken by two routes. One route is taken from the Reasi (Katra), Jammu and another from Srinagar to Kousar Nag via Kulgam in Valley. Kousar Nag pilgrimage has never been stopped or discontinued. It has always been there from Katra via Chasana route, and continued even when terrorism in the Valley was at its peak.
An Islamic dream ‘Nizam-e-Mustafa’ massacred the Hindus of Valley and exodus of Hindus had happened. Srinagar and surroundings became completely free form Hindus during this time of 1985-1990. With no Hindus for pilgrimage, historical Kousar Nag Yatra from Srinagar route came to a halt but Yatra from the Katra route continued.
After 25 years it is just that Hindus of Valley wanted to revive this from Valley route. Kashmir is of Kashmiri Hindus too and we are incomplete without our Hindu brothers said almost every separatist and Valley based political leaders at the time when revised package for resettlement was under consideration and demand of a home land grew among Hindus of Valley. The same separatist could not welcome a few of those same Hindus for few days of pilgrimage and the same leaders refused to protect their religious freedom by disallowing the pilgrimage.
Kashmiri Muslims should seriously consider their thought of school if they are in agreement with Geelani’s statement about polluting Kashmir’s Muslim culture by religious pilgrimages of Hindus. They should look at India’s Hindu culture which has always promoted pilgrimages of Muslims.
Kousar Nag pilgrimage was not at all an environmental issue. Nothing hazardous could have happened with the pilgrimage of less than 30 people. Actually, in Valley, such environmentalists surface when an issue is not suitable for the sectarian forces of the region and unfold only against the issues related to Indian Army and pilgrimages like Kousar Nag and Amarnath. They usually keep mum on the loot of forests, growing construction and pollution of water bodies in many parts of Valley on the name of tourism.
Arvind (The writer is a researcher at J&K Study Center, New Delhi)
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