Shahzad Hussain Hamdani
Kashmir is the land of Saints, Sufis and rishis. It is bestowed with religious wealth in the form of numerous shrines and places of worship enjoying reverence and allegiance of people professing different faiths. There are numerous sepulchres of saints which have enchanting environs, while visiting these shrines, one feels in close proximity of Almighty. Kashmir is said to be the home of shrines and Temples having great historical importance in addition to religious significanceattached to them. These religious placesdoes not belong onlyto a particular faith but people from different faiths respect them and are visited by thousands of devotees.
- The antiquity of Shankaracharya temple is akin to that of Vaishno Devi in Jammu. The temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, has legends dating back to 200 BC.
- The ChattiPadshahi, one of the most important Sikh Gurudwaras in Kashmir is situated just outside the southern gate of the fort.
- Makhdoom Sahib (R.A) shrine on the southern side of the HariParbhathill is visited not only by Muslims but by people of all faiths.
- Hazratbal Mosquesituated the banks of the Dal.Hazratbal’s special significance is derived from the fact that it contains a hair of the Prophet Muhammad.
- Khanqah of Shah Hamadan which stands between the third and fourth bridges on river Jhelum which flows through the city of Srinagar.
- Chrar-e-Sharief, the Shrine holy to both Muslims and Hindus. Sheikh Nooruddin(R.A) after all, was arguably the greatest mystic-saint of Kashmir.
Kashmir also known as paradise on earth is fully bestowed not only with the beauty of nature but with religious wealth in the form of numerous shrines and places of worship. The charisma of these shrines makes Kashmir a place which is acknowledged as the Rishi Vaer or PirVaer, the garden of saints and every Kashmiri and other people visiting here have great respect for all holy garden and seek to keep it clean.
Masses have always advocated for the ban on liquor near the religious places. An initiative to it was first started by the Mata Vaishno Board which enforced a ban on the selling and consumption of Alcohol/liquor within 300 metres around the Mata Vaishno Temple. Like many sacred places of Haridwar, Rishikesh and Varanas; were selling and consumption of alcohol is completely banned, the Mata Vaishno Temple became first of its kind in the State of J&K.
Even in other states like the famous temple town of Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh is likely to become a liquor-free zone, if the TirumalaTirupatiDevasthanams (TTD), which manages the Lord Venkateshwara temple, succeeds in its efforts.
At present, the sale and consumption of liquor is banned on the Tirumala hills and the TTD authorities keep a strict vigil on the pilgrims. Any violation of this rule is a serious crime under the excise Act.
Therefore banning alcohol in the areas where holy places are located is a reality in many states of India including J&K state.But when it comes to Kashmir the perception is totally changed on the basis of tourism, development and revenue. Whenever a voice is raised against the sale of liquor in Kashmir, the voices are criticised by the state media, by national media and even by mainstream politicians andoften labelled as act of extremism. While as in other places including Katra town of Jammu, thepolicy regarding the sale of alcohol and maintaining the holiness of place is always taken as positive steps. Albeit it is important to take such measures but similar measures should also be taken in Kashmir and liquor sale must be banned in the land of Sufis.
Reacting to the running of liquor shops in the state Chairman Hurriyat (G) Syed Ali Shah Geelani , while talking exclusively on this issue to ‘The Kashmir Scenario ‘ said, “We have always been opposite to the selling of alcohol everywhere be it Jammu or Kashmir or any other place. So, it is not just banning it near a religious place but it should be banned across state. Government is giving full boost to sale of alcohol across state and claim that it generates revenue in the form of tax etc. They may be getting money but we are losing our social and religious principles due to it”.
Talking particularly about Kashmir Syed Ali shah Geelani said, “Government has always been cruel to the people of Kashmir in every aspect. Even they are not allowed to exercise their basic democratic right to protest.
When it comes to Kashmir, the government is sitting as mute spectators. While pressing the government to close the liquor shops in Kashmir, various religious organizations held the protest demonstration on November 22, 2010 at the front of wine shops in Boulevard. Countering the clerics, National Conference President and Union Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah on December 5 2010 advocated the opening of more liquor shops and cinemas in Kashmir for the promotion of tourism in the state.
Thus recent initiative to ban the consumption and sale of liquor around the Mata Vaishno templeis although a good move. Pertinently in the Official website of J&K Police one can see a tab named as Public Advisories and a sub-tab under it titled as “Mata Vaishno Devi – Yatra Guidelines” where on the direction of the State Government orders it is clearly mentioned:
Meat, Fish and Egg. (Banned in Katra Town)
Liquor. (Banned in Katra Town)
Tobacco, Cigarettes, Bidi, Match Boxes and any other addictive substance. (Beyond Banganga)
Lighters, Scissors-metal with pointed tips, Toy weapon. (Beyond Banganga)
But it feels unfortunate on the part of the Government of the state; to have forgotten that just like the Mata Vaishno temple, there are also some famous shrines in and around the area of Dalgate and BatwaraSrinagar which has its own religious significance. Onesuch shrine is Ziyarat of a famous saint Sheikh YaqoobSarfi(RA). Despite several protests by people and religious scholars, the Government has failed to impose ban on the Selling and Consumption of Liquor.It has remained only as a dream for the people of Kashmir and continues to be a threat for the Kashmiriyat. It is essential for the governmentto understand that unlike otherstates which have kept a balance between Development, revenues and sentiments of Religions; J&K especially Kashmir is still languishing due to endorsed apathy.