the Holy Ice Zhiva Lingham

entrance to the cave

thousands of pilgrims

Amarnath Pilgrimage  http://www.amarnathyatra2012.in/

Every July-August in Kashmir, Hindu pilgrims flock to the Hindu holy cave in Amarnath to see the Zhiva Ice lingham.So far this year around 67,000 pilgrims have come to pay their respects.
For the legend on Zhiva and the Cave see http://www.amarnathyatra.org/legend.htm#top

For the latest news on this years pilgrimage see:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Amarnath-Yatra-Fresh-batch-of-3199-pilgrims-leave-for-the-shrine/articleshow/14862195.cms

In order to promote Kashmir and this holy Hindu site, the Indian government pays for pilgrims travel expenses, I think they may even get a stipend as well. So while this event is great this huge influx of pilgrims cause road jams from Jammu through Srinagar all the way to Amarnath. The problem is it is an environmental disaster as most pilgrims camp out  in government arranged tents with very little toilet facilities and only the river for water. There are often deaths as well since many are not used to the high elevation and walking up mountains. For many pilgrims who come from the lo were elevations in India where it is scorching hot just now getting used to the climate can also be a killer.

one of the many pilgram buses

pilgrims resting by the lake

The pilgrims come through our neighbour hood by the bus load, some even stay the night in the some of the small guest houses by the lake. So every morning on my walk to the bread shop I encounter Indian folks for all over,some rich some with all the hiking gear and warm coats and some poor with flip flops and thin  Indiana saris, punjabis and kurtas. All of them so excited and just loving being on the bus to the Holy ice lingham.