Annual pilgrimage ends peacefully

The annual Amarnath Yatra concluded on a peaceful note on Wednesday, with nearly 4 lakh pilgrims from different parts of the country visiting the holy cave shrine in the past two months.

Unlike last year, when a land controversy vertically split Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in a lot of bloodshed and setting off panic among the yatris and triggering cancellations, ‘Kashmiriyat’ (camaraderie) was much on display this time.

The Valley played a good host to pilgrims despite the agitation and stone-pelting post the Shopian rape and murder that brought Kashmir to a standstill for over a month.

“Those who were branding us extremists and religious bigots should hang their heads in shame because Kashmiris have lived up to their image of hospitable and tolerant people,” Syed Saleem Geelani, chief spokesman for the moderate Hurriyat Conference, said.

The yatra was delayed due to bad weather and took off on June 15 from Baltal.