NEW DELHI: J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha greeted Singapore-based author and editor Sameer C Mohindru on his silver jubilee Amarnath Yatra and invited overseas Indians to visit the picturesque Union Territory year-round.
The Amarnath Yatra is one of Hinduism’s holiest annual pilgrimages, during which hundreds of thousands of devotees travel to the Amarnath Cave in J&K to worship a naturally formed ice stalagmite revered as a manifestation of Lord Shiva.
“You have set an example. People from Singapore and other countries should visit Jammu and Kashmir at any time of the year,” Sinha said while meeting Mohindru at the Raj Bhawan in Srinagar on July 6.
“The people of Jammu and Kashmir welcome you with open arms,” he said.
Sinha sought Mohindru’s feedback on the experiences of pilgrims and on how the Yatra has evolved over the years. The pilgrimage has a recorded history of more than 2,000 years, including references in Kalhana’s 12th-century chronicle of Kashmir, Rajatarangini.
Mohindru completed his 25th consecutive Amarnath Yatra—excluding the two years when the pilgrimage was suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic—on July 5 by offering prayers at the Holy Cave in the south Kashmir Himalayas. This year, he was accompanied by four pilgrims from Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan, including data analyst Akash Sharma.
Congratulating Mohindru on the milestone despite living and working overseas for nearly two decades, Sinha said the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, under his chairmanship, is making one of the world’s oldest pilgrimages more devotee-friendly through a multi-pronged approach.
The initiatives include widening the Yatra track by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), illuminating the route with solar-powered lighting, increasing the number of temporary toilets, and strengthening digital and telecommunication connectivity.
The number of Tatkal (instant) registrations has also been increased substantially to facilitate pilgrims wishing to undertake the Yatra at short notice.
Mohindru first paid obeisance at the Holy Cave in 2000 and has continued the pilgrimage ever since.
During this period, he covered the Amarnath Yatra as a reporter for the Press Trust of India (PTI), The Wall Street Journal, and Dow Jones Newswires.
The sacred Amarnath Cave is situated at an altitude of about 3,880 metres (12,730 feet) and houses the naturally formed ice stalagmite worshipped as Lord Shiva.
Mohindru also authored the chapter on the Amarnath Yatra in the 2006 book 101 Pilgrimages.
He presented Sinha with a copy of his latest book, What They Don’t Teach You in Journalism Schools: PTI’s Great Stories Behind News & Unsung Heroes.
The book carries a foreword by N. N. Vohra, the longest-serving Governor of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir and current Chairman of the Tribune Trust, which publishes The Tribune.
Sinha recalled meeting Vohra at the Raj Bhawan in Srinagar last month when the latter visited the city and travelled on the Vande Bharat Express to Katra and Jammu.
Part of the railway line in the Kashmir Valley, as well as the Udhampur-Katra rail section, became operational during Vohra’s tenure as Governor.
During his earlier pilgrimages over the past decade, Mohindru had also briefed Vohra and his successor, Satyapal Malik, on pilgrims’ experiences and suggestions for improving the Yatra arrangements.
Held every summer in the Himalayas, the pilgrimage is supported by extensive security and logistical arrangements because of the region’s high altitude and challenging terrain.
Sinha urged Mohindru to encourage overseas Indians not only to undertake the Amarnath pilgrimage and visit other prominent religious destinations but also to explore the lesser-known towns of Jammu and Kashmir, whose pristine natural beauty and warm hospitality leave visitors spellbound.
Sinha represented Uttar Pradesh’s Ghazipur constituency in Parliament for three consecutive terms. Mohindru graduated from the University of Allahabad in neighbouring Prayagraj.
During the meeting, Sinha reminisced about his frequent political visits to Prayagraj and spoke to Mohindru about the significant role played by Shri Shiv Narain in expanding the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) network in the ancient city, renowned for the Sangam and the Kumbh Mela.
