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Once a year they are on their way. Their path leads over a 5000 meter high mountain, into Amarnath valley. Their destination is a cave, in which they worship a stalagmite of ice, a lingam, Lord Shiva’s symbol. Once in a life a Hindu should have visited the cave. Only in summer, when the path is free of snow, the pilgrimage is possible.
Business people and farmers, students and Sadhus, from all parts of
India, young folks and old people alike – to the thousand they
are trekking the magnificent mountains. They are sleeping in high altitude
camps, take their food in high altitude eateries.
The trail leads through stunning, uninhabited landscape. The paths are steep, sometimes very narrow, leading through ice fields and across boulder. Day by day 5000 pilgrims are allowed to start their Yatra, bigger numbers would be logistically unfeasible and dangerous. Last year 67 people died on the pilgrimage. Apart from the geographic danger militant groups of Muslims threaten the Hindu-pilgrims: therefore the Indian government protects the Yatra with a high contingent of troops. 12.000 soldiers stand along the path.
The documentary accompanies four pilgrims. Premal, Abishek and Vijay
are 19, 23 and 31 years old. Together with their uncle Mukesh, a stockbroker
of 40 years, they start their journey from Bombay to Kashmir. In the film
exertion, joy and religious identity of the young men are presented. It
shows their fear of storm and terror attacks and makes their relation
to the Muslim Kashmiri a subject.
Directed by: Rolf Lambert |
