Kheer Bhawani: Pilgrims head for darshan

          Jammu: Hundreds of devotees, particularly Kashmiri pandits, are converging at the highly revered Kheer Bhawani shrine at Tullamulla, 24 km north of Srinagar. A record number of pilgrims, mainly from the northern region, have arrived in Jammu from where they will be escorted by a three-tier security cover all the way to the shrine to offer their prayers tomorow. Undeterred by extremist activity , the devotees are determined to complete their pilgrimage despite any odds. The Kheer Bhawani shrine-- a marble stone temple, dedicated to the goddess Rajnya Devi, popularly known as Kheer Bhawani because devotees offer milk and "Kheer" (pudding) to the sacred spring which, devotees believe, turns black when there is a danger of disaster. Many claim to have witnessed the spring turn black when the State was hit by militancy fifteen years ago. The temple was built by Kashmir's ruler Maharaja Pratap Singh in 1912 and later renovated by Maharaja Hari Singh. The devotees fast and gather here on the eighth day of the full moon during the auspicious month. It is believed, during this month the goddess changes the colour of the spring's waters. "We heard about the Kheer Bhawani and have made it a point to visit the temple whenever we can. This time we are travelling in a large group, Ramesh Handoo," a pilgrim said. "It is a very auspicious day. It is our holy spot, that is why we are going there", Vijay Kaul, another pilgrim said. The pilgrims are confident that the current peace moves will be blessed by Kheer Bhavani and are keen to observe the colour of the spring tomorrow.
- June 15, 2005

Amarnath pilgrimage begins on June 21

         Srinagar: The two-month long Amarnath pilgrimage will begin on June 21, Governor Lt.General (retired) SK Sinha said on Tuesday. "The pilgrimage from Baltal route would begin from 21st June and it would be for 60 days or two months. This time there would be no advance booking or registration for first 15 days, whosoever comes for the pilgrimage would be allowed. In these 15 days preference would be given to civilians," Sinha told reporters here on the sidelines of a national integration camp. Controversy had brimmed over the pilgrimage's duration as the state government decided to restrict it for a month sighting security reasons. The decision was taken after Sinha, who is also chairman of the Amarnath Shrine Board, met with state chief minister Mufti Mohammad Syed on Monday. A major part of the pilgrimage route has been cleared and work is on to clear the remaining portion of the track in another ten days. Last year, around 300,000 devotees went on the pilgrimage. Several times, militants have attacked the annual pilgrimage since the separatist revolt erupted in 1989. In 2002, eight Hindu pilgrims were killed in the attack on Nunwan camp in Pahalgam. Amarnath stands at a height of nearly 12,500 feet (3,888 metres) above sea level. The pilgrimage leads devotees through monsoon rain-swollen streams and past a glacier-fed lake to the cave where they worship an ice stalagmite, believed to be a phallic symbol representing the regenerative powers of Lord Shiva.
- June 7, 2005

Haj: 1.37 lakh Indians go on pilgrimage in 2006, says Natwar

          New Delhi: The Government has said 1.37 lakh Indians will perform Haj in 2006, of which 82,000 pilgrims would perform Haj through the Haj Committee which is the same number as this year. The remaining 55,000 pilgrims, up from 45,000, would undertake the pilgrimage through private tour operators. For their journey to Saudi Arabia, one lakh pilgrims would proceed from various embarkation points in India to Jeddah while the remaining 37,000 would proceed directly to Madina, External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh said addressing the All India Annual Haj Conference. For the return journey, 97,000 pilgrims would come from Jeddah and the remaining 40,000 from Medina. Singh said the space norm for accomodation of pilgrims in Mecca has been enhanced from three sq.m to 3.5 sq.m per pilgrim. Under another category of accomodation being introduced, Indian pilgrims can opt to stay between 1001 to 1200 meters for the Haram Sharief at the rate of Saudi Riyal 1050 per person, he said. Of the 82,000 pilgrims going under the aegis of the Haj Committee, 52,000 are likely to be carried by Saudi Airlines and the remaining 30,000 by Air India. Singh said it was proposed to add Bhopal or Indore as an additional embarkation points during the next Haj. He suggested that Jodhpur should also be considered as an additional point in this regard.
- June 7, 2005

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