Jammu, June 29: A large number of devotees from various parts of the country have started arriving at Bhagwati Nagar, Jammu, the base camp of the AmarnathYatra. Many among them are eagerly looking forward to witnessing what they refer to as “Naya Kashmir” after the abrogation of Article 370.
The majority of Amarnath pilgrims interviewed by Rising Kashmir at the Bhagwati Nagar base camp hailed from Gujarat, as well as Maharashtra.
“I have come for the first time to J&K for the AmarnathYatra,” said Vicky Kahar from Gujarat. He further added, “We are a group of 14 people and are all very eager to witness the changes in J&K that we have been hearing about in the news.”
ChetanKahar, another yatri from Gujarat, expressed his enthusiasm to see ‘Naya Kashmir.’ He stated, “For the past 3-4 years, I have been hearing that J&K has transformed significantly since the abrogation of Article 370. We are very eager to see what has actually changed on the ground and experience it ourselves.”
Yatris from Gujarat and Maharashtra also mentioned that they had learned through media reports that a record number of tourists have been visiting J&K. “We are also tourists, and we would like to visit some famous tourist destinations in J&K, particularly Kashmir, and witness the changes on the ground, provided the government allows us,” said HirenMohraj, a pilgrim from Nashik, Maharashtra.
While interacting with most of the pilgrims, it became evident that apart from undertaking the AmarnathYatra, they are also keen to visit various world-famous tourist destinations in Kashmir.
However, some expressed apprehension due to the yatra being conducted in the form of a cavalcade under tight security. They were unsure whether they would be allowed to visit other places.
SubashChavan, a yatri from Maharashtra, stated, “We are a group of 8 people, and this is our first time here. However, we are all very eager to witness the ‘Naya Kashmir’ (Changed Kashmir) that we have been hearing about in the news, as well as the altered ground situation after the abrogation of Article 370.”
