PUROHIT SABHA
(MARTAND MATTAN)

‘‘Originally the yatra used to be for 15 days or a month.’’

Indian Express: " The sabha organised the yatra before the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board took over in 2000. However, in 2005, the Shrine Board decided to extend the pilgrimage to over two months.

There is no official record though of when the yatra first began." ‘‘Nobody knows,’’ says Sidha. ‘‘It has been there from hundreds of years’’.

Sabha as the Organiser Of Yatra:-
The annual Amarnath pilgrimage was earlier organised by the Purohit Sabha, Mattan and Dashnami Akhara, Srinagar. However, six years ago in 2000, the Jammu and Kashmir State Legislature, by an act, constituted the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB). The Governor of the state is the ex-officio chairman of the board, assisted by a chief executive officer and an additional chief executive officer.

[Kashmir Times] Posted on 02 Jul 2010
ANANTNAG, July 2: The district administration in Anantnag has termed the reports about the temple having been set ablaze and damaged by the people protesting against the killing of three youth by police as false and added that such rumours are being spread by some communal elements to communalize the situation. Speaking to Kashmir Times District Commissioner, Anantnag Jaipal Singh said, “The temple is in the same position as it was. The people who were protesting against the killing of three youth in a fit of rage attacked the police post which is at a little distance from the temple in Janglat Mandi area of the town. They have not even touched the temple". Stating that the rumours are spread by some vested elements in Jammu for their vested interests he said, “There is no authenticity in the reports. There are some communal elements who are trying to create chaos and confusion among the people in Jammu. People should be cautious about such rumour mongers and their evil designs." Additional district magistrate Anantnag Ghulam Mohammad Dar while talking to Kashmir Times said, “We called the members of Purohit Sabha Trust, Mattan and took them to the spot who personally found that the temple is all safe and no damage has been caused to it." He said the intention to take the trust members to the spot was to make things clear to the Hindu community in Jammu which is being provoked by some elements who are out to disrupt the peace in the state for their political and other interests. Chairman of the trust R N Koul told Kashmir Times that he along with other trust members visited the temple and found it safe. "The district administration Anantnag called us and took us to the spot. We in presence of Additional District Magistrate entered the temple and found it safe in and out. The temple is properly guarded by the policemen and no damage has been caused to it as was being rumoured by some elements. I want to convey to my Hindu brethren in Jammu not to believe in the rumours of communal elements," he said.

Purohit Sabha was praised for its role:
Praising the Purohit Sabha for its active support, Mr. Verma appealed people to discourage use of polythene given its hazardous traits and replacing it with environment-friendly cloth and paper carry bags.