Srinagar, June 25: Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha on Thursday addressed the Valedictory Session of an International Conference on Amarnath Yatra, organized by the Government Degree College for Women, Anantnag in collaboration with the District Administration Anantnag.
The Lieutenant Governor stated that Amarnath Yatra is a living embodiment of India’s spiritual consciousness, cultural heritage and humane values.
“We must preserve, enrich, and pass on this great tradition to future generations. The sacred Shri Amarnath Yatra stands for social unity and deep inner reflection. A journey of patience, prayer, and connection with the divine, it reminds us that true spirituality is about exploring the light within,” he said.
Sinha said many families and communities have served pilgrims for generations.
He said people from different faiths and beliefs have played vital roles in contributing to this pilgrimage and their participation testifies to a shared human consciousness that operates above the boundaries of religion, language, and community.
“At a time when divisions appear to be rising in many parts of the world, Amarnath Yatra offers a unique model of coexistence. The pilgrimage conveys that the true purpose of faith is to bring people together. It is a spiritual journey of the shared values of humanity. The yatra is also a vibrant celebration of India’s cultural diversity,” he said.
Sinha said devotees who come from across the country bring their languages, traditions and as they travel the route this diversity becomes a medium of mutual respect and warmth. “I believe this is India’s real strength. The yatra embodies the ideal of our civilization that we call “unity in diversity.” The journey teaches that national unity is built on mutual respect and common purpose”.
He also stated that Amarnath yatra plays a critical role in the local economy and mentioned that pony operators, shopkeepers, artisans, hoteliers, transport providers, thousands of families are directly or indirectly linked to the pilgrimage and the yatra generates livelihoods and also accelerates regional development and infrastructure.
“Maintaining a balance between development and nature conservation is our collective responsibility. Sanitation, waste management, biodiversity conservation, animal welfare, and environmental balance are our collective responsibility. A zero-waste Shri Amarnath Ji yatra has been our commitment, and pilgrims are encouraged through campaigns such as 100 percent waste recycling, organized waste-collection networks, and “Bring plastic, take a bag” initiatives for environmental protection,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor highlighted that over the past two to three years both tracks have been widened and ambulances have been stationed at designated points along the route. “Baltal and Chandanwari tracks were widened to 12 feet and illuminated at night. The tracks are inspected and repaired each night during the pilgrimage.”
“In the future Amarnath yatra will become an important center for global spiritual tourism. It will introduce pilgrims and foreign visitors to the Yatra's grandeur as well as India’s rich traditions of philosophy, yoga, meditation, and spirituality. The pilgrimage will also be a strong instrument of cultural diplomacy. Visitors from different countries can return having experienced a profound spiritual wisdom,” he said.
“To ensure each devotee departs with a unique spiritual experience, many transformations have been carried out in the past five years, and digital tools have become an important means. Online registration, RFID and GPS-based monitoring, camera surveillance along the entire track, digital information systems, and modern communication technologies have made the pilgrimage safer, more accessible, and more transparent. We have sought to adopt modern innovations while safeguarding the pilgrimage’s core spiritual spirit,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
Dr. Mandeep K Bhandari, Principal Secretary to Lieutenant Governor and CEO Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board; Dr. Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, Commissioner Secretary, Youth Services and Sports Department and Nodal Officer for Pahalgam Axis; Anshul Garg, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir; VK Birdi, IGP Kashmir; Javid Iqbal Matoo, DIG South Kashmir; Dr. Bilal Mohiuddin Bhat, Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag; Amod Nagpure Ashok, SSP Anantnag, Dr. Khalida Hassan, Principal Government Degree College for Women, Anantnag; Prof. Farooq Ahmed Malik, Organising Secretary, faculty, staff, students, prominent citizens, civil society members and people from different walks of life attended the conference.