Waving in the “Welcome to Paradise” in the May Breeze with flags and banners, a caravan of about 300 vehicles rolled from banks of dal lake on Sunday morning, rolling a caravan of about 300 vehicles -Gantiya -Pahgam, its objective: Hope.
The Daal Lake to Pahgam road show, organized by the tourism community and was easily involved by traders, transporters, hotel businessmen and youth, was a adventure, hearty response to the Pahgam terror attack on 22 April, killing 26 tourists and the entire tourist industry was paralyzed.
“After 22 April, the booking was canceled overnight,” recalled a major tour operator and event organizer Amir Majed. “The hotels were empty, the guides were unemployed, the ride of Shikara used to stop the middle-leak. But today, this rally is our reply-Kashmir is safe, and Kashmir is ready.”
The attack of 22 April, a shocking work of violence in the tourist-manner Pahalgam region, sent waves of fear throughout the region. Tourists packed their bags, local businesses closed their shutters, and an uncomfortable silence fell at the most viewed sites in the valley. Already for an economy, the shock was deeper, correcting post-pandemic and recession related to struggle.
But the soul of Kashmir is flexible. Manzoor Kundaro, another stakeholder, who thrown out all the way in a decorated van from Lake Dal Lake, said, “We are not only asking tourists to come – we are telling them that the people of Kashmir are united for peace. The doors of our houses are open, our hearts are open.”
As the rally made its way through Anantnag, Bijbehar and Matan, lined up hundreds of roads, waving vehicles, offering snacks and “Aman’s prophet – pride of Kashmir!” (Message of peace – pride of Kashmir!)
Riyaz Ahmed, a hotelier from Srinagar, joined the rally with his team, said, “It is not just about business. It is about identity. Tourism is the lifeline of Kashmir’s economy – but more than that, it is the lifeline of our relationship for the world.”
With additional posts, monitoring and joint patrols in tourism areas, the April attack has greatly increased security after security. Officials say that confidence-making measures continue to assure tourists.
By the time the caravan reached Pahalgam, the grasslands were again alive with color and song. Local people kept traditional Kehwa and Snacks, children waved the flags of peace, and folk artists danced to Rauf – a symbolic celebration of return, renewal and flexibility.
“This is Kashmir. I want my children to grow up,” Wasim Ahmed said, a young journey blogger lived this program live-streaming. “Location of peace, culture, and unmatched beauty. No headlines of fear.”
