Financial Burden on Amarnath & Vaishno Devi Pilgrimage

    Every year in the month of July, Amarnath yatra begins; not only Hindus but other religion devotees also take part in this religious congregation with lot of joy and fervour. This year Pilgrimage will begins on 1st July and ends on 24 August. Amarnath yatra related to lord Shiva. Inside the main Amarnath cave lays an ice stalagmite resembling the Shiva Linga, which waxes during May to August and gradually wanes thereafter. This lingam is said to grow and shrink with the phases of the moon, reaching its height during the summer festival. According to Hindu mythology, this is the cave where Shiva explained the secret of life and eternity to his divine consort Parvati. There are two other ice formations representing Parvati and Shiva's son, Ganesha.One of the holy trinity, Shiva is a living god. The most sacred and most ancient book of India, the Rig Veda evokes his presence in its hymns, Vedic Myths, rituals and even testifies to his existence from the dawn of time.Amarnath legend is as follow  –

• This is the Cave which was chosen by Bhole Shankar for narrating the secrets of immortality and creation of Universe to Maa Parvati. The story goes like this. Centuries ago Maa Parvati asked Lord Shiv to let her know why and when he started wearing the beads of heads (Mund Mala). Bhole Shankar replied when ever you are born I add one more head in my beads. Ma Parvati said," My Lord, my body is destroyed every time and I die again and again, but you are immortal. Please let me know the secret of this." Bhole Shankar replied that it is due to Amar Katha." Maa Parvati insisted that she may be told that secret. For long Shiva ji continued postponing. Finally on consistent demand from Maa Parvati He made up his mind to tell the immortal secret. He started for lonely place where no living being could listen it. He chooses Amarnath Cave. In preparation to that He left his Nandi (Bull which he used to ride) at Pahalgam (Bail gaon). At Chandanwari He released Moon from his hairs (Jataon). At the banks of Lake Sheshnag He released the snakes. He decided to leave his Son Ganesha at Mahagunas Parvat (Mahaganesh Hill). At Panjtarni, Shivji left the Five Elements behind (Earth, Water, Air, Fire and Sky) which make living being. He is the Lord of these elements. It is believed that as a symbol of sacrificing the earthly world, Shiva and Maa Parvati had Tandav Dance. After leaving behind all these, Bhole Shankar enters the Holy Amarnath Cave along with Maa Parvati. Lord Shiva takes his Samadhi on the Deer Skin and concentrate. To ensure that no living being is able to hear the Immortal Tale, He created Rudra named Kalagni and ordered him to spread fire to eliminate every living thing in and around the Holy Cave. After this He started narrating the secret of immortality to Maa Parvati, but as a matter of chance one egg which was lying beneath the deer skin remained protected. It is believed to be non living and more over it was protected by Shiva Parvati Asan (Bed). The pair of pigeons which were born out of this egg became immortal having listened the secret of immortality (Amar Katha). Many pilgrims report seeing the pair of pigeons when they trek the arduous route to pay their obeisance before the Ice-Lingam (the phallic symbol of Shiva).

Below are the designated Registration Officers and their postal addresses:-

• Assistant Director-Tourism, J&K Government (For residents of Delhi, U.P and Haryana). Address for correspondence, 201-203 Kanishka Shoping Complex, 19-Ashok Road New Delhi, Tel: 011-3345373. Address for registration, J&K Govt. Guest House Kutlly Marg Chankiyapuri New Delhi.
• Deputy Director Tourism,J&K Govt., 26th North Wing ,World Trade Centre Cuffe Parade, Colaba Mumbai. Tel: 022-218804 (for residents of Maharshtra, Madiya Pradesh and Goa).
• Tourist Officer, J&K Govt., 12 Chowringhee, Culcutta. (Tel 033-228591) (For residents of West Bangal, Orrisa, Bihar and North Eastern States).
• Assistant Director Tourism, J&K Government, II-floor 36/36-A North Uma Road Chennai. Tel: 044-550551. For residents of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry.
• Assistant Tourist Officer, J&k Govt., Airlines House, Lal Darwaza, Ahmadabad (Tel:077-5503551). For residents of Gujarat State).
• Assistant Tourist Officer, J&K Govt. 5th Floor, Left Wing, Chandra Vihar Complex, M.J. Road, Hyderabad. Tel: 044-4734805 (For residents of Andra Pradesh and Karnataka).
• Deputy Director, Tourism, J&K Govt, Tourist Reception Centre, Veer Marg Jammu. Tel:0191-520432 ( For residents of Jammu, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh).
• Tourist Officer, J&K Govt, Enquiry & Reservations, Tourist Reception Centre, Srinagar. Tel:0194-479548, 452690 ( For those applying directly to Head office).

This year State government took decision to increase the entry tax on the vehicles, According to a notification issued by the state government under Jammu and Kashmir Motor Vehicle Taxation Act, 1957, Rupees 2,000 for first three days and then 2,000 Rupees per day for the pilgrimage of Mata Vaishno Devi and for Amarnath yatra the rates are Rupees 2,000 for first seven days then Rs 2000 per day. No doubt it will generate huge revenue to state government, as last year, as per figures available,400,000 devotees visited Amarnath Caves and as per rough estimates millions of devotees visits ever year to Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, but increase in entry tax will make pilgrimage costly. State Government in place of giving incentives to pilgrimage of these two holy Hindus places instead they make journey dearer.