Pilgrims Return Without Darshan

Gujarati yatris return without having darshan after Overcharged

Tired and heart broken, Nattu Bhai and his wife Jasu Behan were taking feeble steps. With tears in their eyes and hoping to return next year they were on their way to Pahalgam for onward journey to Baroda, Gujarat without performing darshan of the holy Ice Lingam of Lord Shiva in the Amarnath cave shrine in South Kashmir Himalayas.

They had planned the yatra last year and had been saving money for whole year to make this holy journey. But they exhausted their money in Sheshnag and decided to return.

Fifty eight year old Nattu Bhai is the leader of the 11 member group, mostly elders. All of them from same locality of Baroda, Gujarat. "We had planned this yatra last year. All of us saved money for this trip but at Sheshnag we were short of money. And then we decided to return," said Nattu Bhai.

"We had brought money as per the rates claimed by the Government. But here we were overcharged. For tented accommodation we were charged Rs 250 per person while the rate is Rs 90. We were charged Rs 4,500 by pony-walas from Chandanwari to Amarnath Cave while the rate is Rs 3,200. And palki-walas charged us Rs 18, 000 while rate is only Rs 13, 000, he rued."

Jasu Behan said "it was difficult for us to make the forward journey. When we realized that we exhausted our money we decided to terminate our yatra. If Lord Shiva wishes we will come next year. Begging was the only option for continuation of our yatra but we decided not to go for it."

Seventy-year-old Bindu Behan, who was the eldest member of the group said "It had been my last wish to have darshan but Lord Shiva didn't grant it this year."

The Tent Union president at Nunwan, Muhammad Anwar denied over charging. He said "we are charging only Rs 90 here at Nunwan but we have no idea what others charge at Chandanwari, Sheshnag and other places. If they are overcharging, it is wrong."

Ghulam Muhammad, a pony-wala admitted that they overcharged. "The Government rate is Rs 3,200 from Chandanwari to Cave shrine and back but our rates range from Rs 4000 to Rs 4500 depending upon the customer."

"When it is peak season, the Government enforces rates. If we overcharge and are caught police beats us. But when the season is lean, we even charge Rs 2000 to Rs 2500 and at that time no one checks our rates, he added."

The overcharging complaints by Amarnath pilgrims are rampart. Even the pilgrims allege that helicopter tickets are sold at higher rates.

Alok Tiwari of Uttar Pradesh, who had performed darhan from Baltal route said, he was charged Rs 6,500. Normally the return fare for the traditional Pahalgam route set by the SASB is Rs 6,900 while for the shorter Baltal route is Rs Rs 4850 per person.