Our auspicious days lkWu mRlo
June 16: Wednesday: Kumar Shashthi
July 23: Friday: Jwala Chaturdashi, Khrew yatra.
July 24: Saturday: Guru Purnima, Shree Chhadi snan, Martand yatra, Vasu Gupta khshya.
July 27: Tuesday: Sankata Nivaran Chaturthi.
August 4: Wednesday: Kamala Ekadasahi
August 13: Friday: Naga Panchami, Kumara Shashthi.
August 16: Monday: Shrawana Somwar vrat.
August 17: Tuesday: Sankranti vrata.
August 19: Thursday: Kapal Mochan, Shopian
August 22: Sunday: Rakhsha Bandan, Shri Amarnath yatra, Thajeewore yatra, Vamu yatra,
Verinag, Chandraswamin yatra
Amarnath Yatra cancelled
Because of Covid
The Jammu and Kashmir administration announced on June 21 last, cancellation of the Amarnath Yatra. This is the second consecutive year that the pilgrimage has been cancelled due to the pandemic.
The 56-day yatra to the 3,880-metre-high cave shrine located in the upper reaches of the Himalayas was supposed to start from the twin routes of Pahalgam and Baltal on June 28 and conclude on August 22.
While the yatra would be held symbolically, all the rituals will be performed at the holy shrine, an official said.
A government spokesman said a threadbare discussion was held with the members of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board on the present Covid-19 situation before announcing the decision to cancel the yatra.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who is also Chairman of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, held a detailed discussion with board members and directed that devotees should be enabled to attend the morning and evening Aarti ceremonies virtually. Such a move would help them to pay their obeisance while also avoiding travel and exposure, he added.
During the meeting board members informed him that they have put in place virtual and televised mechanism for live darshan of Aarti from the holy cave.
“It’s important to save people’s lives. So, it is not advisable to hold and conduct this year’s pilgrimage in the larger public interest. Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board is aware of and respects the sentiments of millions of devotees, and to keep the sentiments alive, the board shall continue the live telecast of morning and evening Aarti from the Holy Cave shrine,” Sinha said.
“Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board has been assessing the Covid situation in the Union Territory and the country. Our focus is on containing the pandemic and strengthening health infrastructure,” he added.
Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board CEO, Nitishwar Kumar, said, the board has made arrangements for the mace of Lord Shiva- Chhari Mubarak to be taken to the holy cave on August 22, when the yatra is to conclude coinciding with the festival of Raksha Bandhan.
Sh. Kumar further said that both morning telecast of Aarti at 6 AM and evening Aarti at 5 PM, each for 30 minutes is to be live-streamed on Shri Amarnath ji Shrine board official website and the app specifically dedicated for the devotees.
Digvijay presented untrue facts: Observers
Kashmiri Pandit Conference has criticised the statement of Sh. Digvijay Singh Congress General Secretary, who had claimed, in an interview with a Pak journalist, that Kashmiri Pandits were having reservation in Kashmir. KPC adds that Sh. Singh said this and presented similar other facts, which are untrue.
Sh. Kundan Kashmiri, President, KPC, is of the view that Sh. Singh has demonstrated his immaturity. Sh Kundan adds that nationalist forces, in particular Kashmiri Pandits, who have given their blood for the nullification of Article 370, are anguished over such remarks.
Commenting on Shri Singh’s statement, Sh. Hira Lal Kak says Sh. Singh is a traitor. He adds that the Congress leader alleged that “Democracy was not there in Kashmir when they revoked Article 370. Insaniyat (humanity) was not there because they put everyone behind bars. And Kashmiriyat is something that is fundamental to secularism. Because in a Muslim-majority State, there was a Hindu Raja (king).”
Sh. Kak remarks that Sh. Singh, also, seemed to whitewash the genocide of Hindus from the valley. According toi Sh. Kak “When Digvijay Singh says that Kashmiri Pandits were the ones who got reservations in jobs, he says that the Hindus of the valley were treated well by the Muslims of the state, he is completely glossing over the genocide where Hindus were raped, murdered and driven away from Kashmir by Muslim fundamentalists and Jihadis.”
P.M. should have talks with K.Ps in exile: KPC
Kashmiri Pandit Conference (KPC), reacting to the meeting of All J&K political parties with the Prime Minister India, on June 24 last, stated that it is important now to have talks with K. Ps in exile by the Prime Minister, for their meaningful rehabilitation in the valley as per their aspirations. In this regard an initiative is to be taken by PMO or MHA on the repeated requests already made by the displaced K. P. representatives from time to time. Restoration of statehood to the Union territory of J&K will be a premature decision, before complete peace is restored, all jihadis, conspirators and their masters are eliminated and displaced K Ps are rehabilitated.
KPC President Kundan Kashmiri stated that the governance, which had been missing during the past 70 years under the statehood status, has now become visible on the ground as being the union territory of J&K. People are feeling the change and to some extent comfortable as compared to the previous structure of the government in the erstwhile J&K state.