Shree Amarnath Ji Yatra is the best and shining symbol and example of spirituality ,divinity ,religiosity & communal harmony and mutual brotherhood .This pilgrimage symbolizes religious tolerance and communal amity and it is the reflection of real Kashmiriyet and hospitality of Kashmiris and their affectionate nature which attracts a very large number of pilgrims during the period of the Yatra which is July –August annually .It is the symbol and instance of inter faith harmony and for the mutual brotherhood ,this yatra is famous throughout the country and abroad as well .

It is an arduous, mountainous and difficult sojourn which is a great attraction to the pilgrims from far and wide and it is frequented by a large number of pilgrims and tourists during the period of the yatra which generally falls in July-August .Amarnath Yatra and the Shiv cave has an important place and importance in Hinduism and its mention is found in Purans and other religious scriptures and people have great faith in the Amarnath Cave and the natural Shiva Lingam and the people undertake this difficult journey to have the glimpse of the ice lingam of Shiva and other small figures of Parvati & Ganesh .This yatra is very ancient and it is believed that in good olden days Amarnath Cave was discovered by Milacks of Batkoot and the fact that a part of the donations gifted to Lord Shiva is distributed to the off springs of the Milacks and thus it is the good example of communal harmony. Since Kashmiri Muslims are actively involved in Amarnath Yatra as it is this community of Kashmir which provides horses ,mules ,pounis, Dangies ,labors and other services to the Yatris is in itself a matter of great pride and is the reflection that the Yatra is the symbol of mutual brotherhood and communal harmony .
The people of Kashmir mostly Muslims besides Hindus wait anxiously and eagerly for the Amarnath Yatra which is a matter of economic boost to the local Kashmiris besides being a matter of solace and pride for them .This important and world famous yatra provides seasonal jobs to the local people and it is a source of money to many local men and women .So besides being a divine and spiritual pilgrimage, it is also a means of sustenance to many and thus people without any religious distinction are eagerly waiting for the commencement of the Amarnath Yatra .During the period of Amarnath Yatra ,it becomes a mini –India as people all over the country arrive to have the glimpse of holy cave housing Shiva Linga .The trek to Amarnath ,in the month of Shravan{July-August} has the devout flock to this incredible shrine ,where the image of Shiva ,in the form of a Lingam ,is formed naturally of ice Stalagmite ,which is believed to wax and wane with the Moon’s cycle .Amarnath temple is a Hindu shrine located in the Pahalgam tehsil of the Anantnag district of Jammu &Kashmir .
This cave shrine situated at an altitude of 3,888 m{12,756ft} about 168 Kms .from Anantnag city .It is an important shrine in Hinduism .The cave located in Sind valley ,is surrounded by glaciers ,snowy mountains and is covered with snow most part of the year ,except for a short period in the summer ,when it open to pilgrims .The Amarnath cave ,abode of the Mahamaya Shakti Pitha ,is one of the 51 Shakti Pithas ,the temples of the Indian subcontinent that commemorates the location of the fallen body parts of the Hindu deity sati .The Shiva Lingam at the shrine is a Sawayambhu lingam. The lingam is a natural stalagmite formation inside a 40 m {130ft} tall cave at an elevation of 3888m –12,756ft on the Amarnath Mountain ,which has a peak of 5,186 meters {17,014 ft].The stalagmite is formed due to the freezing of water drops that fall from the roof of the cave onto the floor ,resulting in an upward growth of an ice formation .Here, the stalagmites considered as the lingam ,a physical manifestation of Shiva ,form a solid dome-shape.
Two smaller stalagmites are thought to represent Parvati and Ganesha .According to ancient Hindu texts of the Mahabharata and Puranas a lingam represents shiva .The lingam waxes during May to August ,as snow melts in the Himalayas above the cave and water seeps into the rocks of the cave ,thereafter the lingam gradually wanes. Religious beliefs hold that the lingam grows and shrinks with the phases of the moon ,reaching its height during the summer festival .Hindus believe this is the place where Shiva explained the secret of life and eternity to his divine consort ,Parvati .So this cave shrine of Amarnath is most important for Hindus .
Amarnath is one of the most famous pilgrimage destinations of India and it is organised every year by the government of Jammu and Kashmir .The shrine has an important part to play in Hindu culture and is considered to be one of the holiest shrines .Every year Amarnath Yatra is marked by Pratham pujan which is said to summon the blessings of Baba Amarnath and attracts a large number of devotees from all over the world .As per the belief ,the Amarnath cave is where Lord Shiva was narrating Amar Katha to Goddess Parvati and wanted to keep it secret .Therefore ,he left all his companions behind .His riding friend-Nandi ,the bull-was left at Pahalgam ,the moon atop his head at Chandanwari ,the snake around his neck at Lake Sheshnag ,the five basic essentials of life that he carried at Panchtarini and even his son –Lord Ganesha himself –at Mahaguna top. When shiva fineshed the narration ,he realized that goddess Parvati has actually fallen asleep and a parrot was listening all the while. This infuriated the Lord and he threw his Trishul to kill the parrot .To save himself ,the parrot entered in to the womb of saint’s wife. .The baby was later born to become a famous sage .
The Amarnath yatra is more than just a religious pilgrimage .It is a symbol of India’s rich syncretic culture and embodies Kashmiriyet in true sense .It is an example of love and bonding between the Kashmiri Muslims and the outside Pilgrims and the yatra shows that religious harmony and cultural beauty are the hallmarks of Anmarnath Yatra .Amarnath Yatra in fact enriches cultural fabric .The confluence of people of different regions ,languages ,and cultures during the yatra enriches the social fabric through mutual interaction and exchanges of values ,ideas, and thoughts .Traditionally the Amarnath Yatra has been mobilizing devotees from all the corners of the world .This annual spiritual journey of believers of the Hindu faith to the Amarnath cave shrine besides having religious and historical importance also testifies to the flourishing cultural ecosystem of the country which fosters the relations between people of diverse cultures .Apart from social and cultural impact ,Amarnath Yatra has been pivotal in leveraging the economic growth and prosperity of the region and generates income for lakhs of the service providers including transporters,ponywallas,pithuwallas,dandiwallas,traders,shopkeepers,hoteliers,artisans,vendors and many other unorganized workers .In short Amarnath Yatra besides being a religious and spiritual pilgrimage is the yatra of communal harmony, diverse cultural ethos ,economic utility and above all a pilgrimage of unity in diversity.

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