Amarnath yatra chance to showcase Kashmir’s hospitality, defeat hate: Mehbooba

Seeking to counter what she termed misinformation and prejudice against Kashmir and Muslims, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti urged residents to extend every possible support to Amarnath pilgrims, saying their experiences in the Valley would help convey Kashmir’s true spirit across the country.

Mehbooba said this while addressing the local stakeholders at Pahalgam, which is the base camp for the pilgrimage in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

Mehbooba called upon the people of Kashmir that “Every Amarnath 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. This is how we defend the soul of Kashmir and counter the false narratives built against Muslims.”

“Safeguarding the Yatra is not merely the responsibility of security agencies, it is our collective duty,” said Mehbooba.

Calling upon the people of Kashmir, she urged a peaceful people’s initiative to ensure every Yatri feels welcomed, respected, and protected. “If every Yatri leaves with a positive experience, they will carry the true story of Kashmir to every corner of India, a story of warmth, humanity, coexistence, and the enduring spirit of our people,” she said

She urged the people to uphold Kashmir’s tradition of hospitality, compassion, and communal harmony by extending every possible support to the pilgrims. “Every successful yatra is a triumph of harmony over hate”, Mehbooba said.                

She said that protecting the Yatra is not just the responsibility of the security forces, it is a collective duty of the people of Kashmir. “In times of growing hate and polarisation, the Yatra should become an opportunity to build harmony, strengthen human connections, and bridge divides across India”.

“Yatris are ambassadors who carry their experience of Kashmir back to their homes and communities. Every interaction is an opportunity to showcase Kashmir’s traditions of hospitality, compassion, and coexistence. The misinformation and prejudice directed against Kashmir and Muslims can best be challenged through genuine human outreach and a heartfelt welcome to every pilgrim”.

“The Yatra should be a locally protected, locally supported, and locally owned process that reflects the true spirit of Kashmir and its people”, she said.

“The Amarnath Yatra is more than a pilgrimage, it’s a statement of coexistence.    If every yatri leaves feeling welcomed and protected, they will carry the true story of Kashmir to every corner of India. As it begins, Pahalgam welcomes Yatris not just with security, but with warmth. Every devotee walking this sacred path carries forward the message of compassion, coexistence and resilience”, she said.