This year’s Hindu pilgrimage to Mawjymbuin Cave in Mawsynram has been called off as the Dorbar Shnong Mawsynram has expressed its inability at this juncture to decide the request for permission in view of the paucity of time.
The matter came up during hearing of the writ petition filed by Yatra in the bench of Justice Hamarsan Singh Thangkhiew of Meghalaya High Court here today.
However, the High Court ordered for the setting up of a committee “to look into the entire aspect of the matter and how the cave is to be managed, keeping in mind the sanctity of the place, environmental consideration and also religious consideration”.
The court directed East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Rosetta M. Kurbah who was present at the hearing to propose the names of the entities and persons or stakeholders who will be part of the committee to examine the matter and to arrive at a solution that is acceptable to all.
The Deputy Commissioner assured the court to supply the list of the prospective members of the committee within one week from today.
The High Court has listed the case for hearing on August 22 for supply of the list and for further orders.
During today’s hearing, Hiamdor Rapsang, the Assistant Rangbah Shnong of Mawsynram who is also the spokesperson, told the court that the Dorbar Shnong accepts and knows the fact that the Mawjymbuin Cave is an important tourist attraction, apart from being a sacred place venerated by many worshipers of different faiths.
He however, requested the High Court that in order to come to a proper consensus and to evolve certain procedures to allow peaceful visitation to the site, some more consultation is necessary.
S Jindal, lawyer for Yatra, on the submission of the Assistant Rangbah Shnong also told the court that it is understood that due to the paucity of time, a decision or resolution could not be arrived at by the Dorbar Shnong.
Jindal agreed under instructions by Yatra, that for this year the proposed pilgrimage was called off to await further developments in this regard.
After hearing the submissions of the parties, Justice Thangkhiew said that it was unfortunate that no resolution could be arrived at to allow the organisation to organise the pilgrimage which is sacred to them in their belief.
“This court also notes the concession made by the petitioners organisation (Yatra) in this regard that they are willing to call off the said yatra to await a resolution of the entire matter,” Justice Thangkhiew added.
