Religious organisations set up community kitchens to serve Amarnath pilgrims

Keen volunteers have set up community kitchens providing free food, temporary shelter and medical care in a bid to help devotees undertaking the annual Hindu pilgrimage, Amarnath Yatra in Jammu and Kashmir.

President of a religious organisation, Baba Barfani Sewa Mandal, Chander Sheikher Sood, said that various kitchens enroute to Amarnath are being run by his volunteers and arrangements for nearly 5,000 pilgrims have been made.

"There are a lot of facilities for the pilgrims who come here. We understand that the pilgrims have less money. The people who come here are served free and we serve them with our hearts," he said.

Pilgrims said they were happy with them arrangements made for them and their journey was made easier through the efforts of the volunteers.

"There are a lot of community kitchens that have been set up ahead of Lakhenpur. The food is good and there are lot of facilities for the pilgrims. All preparations are good. People from all religions get the same food and sit together to have it. There is no discrimination," said a

pilgrim, Chinky.

People of all faiths are involved in these volunteer services, added devotees.The holy Amarnath cave containing the holy Shiva shrine is located at a snow-capped mountainous peak of the Himalayas.

This annual pilgrimage commences in the last week of June every year and concludes in early August.