Peoples Democratic Party president and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Monday described the annual Amarnath Yatra as an opportunity to counter hatred and misinformation.
She urged the people of Kashmir to ensure that pilgrims return home with positive memories of the Valley and its people.
The annual pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir will commence on July 3 and conclude after 57 days on August 28. The Amarnath Yatra attracts thousands of pilgrims from across the country.
According to a PDP statement said that Mehbooba today visited party Pahalgam, one of the key base camps for the pilgrimage, to appeal for a warm welcome to Amarnath Yatris and urging people to uphold Kashmir’s tradition of hospitality, compassion, and communal harmony by extending every possible support to the pilgrims.
Speaking in Pahalgam, Mehbooba said every pilgrim visiting Jammu and Kashmir should be regarded as a guest and an ambassador who carries the story of Kashmir to different parts of the country.
She said the manner in which pilgrims are welcomed and treated can play an important role in challenging negative perceptions and strengthening bonds between people across regions and communities.
“Every pilgrim who visits us is a guest of Kashmir. They carry the story of our land, our people and our values to every corner of India. It is our responsibility to ensure they leave with memories of our love, warmth and hospitality,” she said.
The former Chief Minister said safeguarding the pilgrimage should not be viewed solely as a security responsibility but as a collective social obligation shared by the people of Kashmir.
She argued that at a time of increasing polarization and mistrust, the Yatra presents an opportunity to promote understanding, strengthen human connections and reinforce Kashmir’s traditions of coexistence.
Mehbooba said pilgrims who return to their homes after visiting the Valley often become firsthand witnesses to the culture, hospitality and social values of Kashmir, making every interaction significant.
She maintained that prejudice and misinformation directed at Kashmir and its people can best be addressed through direct engagement and genuine human outreach rather than political rhetoric.
Calling for greater public participation, Mehbooba said the pilgrimage should be a locally protected, locally supported and locally owned process that reflects the true spirit of Kashmir and its people.
