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AHMEDABAD, INDIA, July 5, 2004: The threat perception to Amarnath Yatra put forward by the Jammu and Kashmir Government was no deterrent for hundreds of Gujaratis who queued up for hours for registration for the pilgrimage at the Jammu and Kashmir Bank in Ahmedabad on Monday. Though the registration was to begin at 3 pm, at least 1,000 persons were seen standing in the queue from 6 am, some from Saturday night itself. There was utter chaos as there were no facilities for the people at the bank premises and many were fighting for a place in the queue. At the end of the day, only 200 could manage to get permission slips for the yatra. Since each of the 200 could get the registration for at least six persons, around 1,000 to 1,200 yatris got registered on Monday, the first day of registration. The registration is a must to participate in the yatra, which would officially begin on July 15. Though Gujarat sends the maximum number of pilgrims for Amarnath Yatra every year, there are only three centres — Ahmedabad, Vadodara and Surat — in the State for registration. People from as far as Porbandar, Bhavnagar and Godhra were in Ahmedabad on Monday for registration.



Devendra Padhiyar from Asarava said he has been standing in the queue from Saturday night and he and his brother kept alternating in the queue. He was among the lucky few who got the permission slip for August 3. Mansukh Takwani (54) from Porbandar said he was standing in the queue from 7 am. He said he knows chances are rare that he would get the registration on Monday, yet preferred to take a chance. “We face more trouble here than at Amarnath. But since we want to go for the yatra we face all hardships and stand in the queue,” he said. Those from outside Ahmedabad faced maximum inconvenience. Kantibhai Patel from Himmatnagar did not get the registration on Monday but said he will stand in the queue till he gets it. Kantibhai said, “We are not going with any tour operator. We don’t know anyone here. So what else can we do other than hope that our turn will come soon.” What if he does not get the registration? “We will go to Jammu and do the registration there or we’ll find some other way to go for the yatra,” said Kantibhai. There were complaints that the bank was not responsive towards requests for some facility for the people. Some trusts and groups were seen serving the people water, tea and food.

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