The National Green Tribunal on Wednesday earned the wrath of Social Media users after reports emerged which claimed that the environment body has banned the chanting of mantras in the Amarnath temple. This temple is home to a natural Shivling and is considered one of the holiest shrines in Hinduism.
The logic given behind this ban seems to be that, a silent zone is being created around the main shrine to prevent avalanche and preserve ecology.
As per the report, apart from banning the mantras the tribunal headed by chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar also issued a slew of other orders like banning the ringing of bells in the temple.
The pilgrims also have to deposit their mobile phones and other belongings before taking Darshan. As a result of this, the shrine body has been asked to build a separate room to store these belongings. The devotees would now also need to walk in a single queue after crossing the last checkpoint.
After giving the orders, the tribunal has also asked the Amarnath shrine board to strictly implement them.
Many social media users as a result considered such orders as a gross interference in the Hindu faith and reacted:
The NGT’s decision is short of ludicrous. This is a major instance of judicial overreach.
Also, is the NGT competent enough to claim that chanting mantras causes avalanches?
— Srikanth Ramakrishnan (I can finally fit my name) (@rsrikanth05) December 13, 2017
Year 2025. A Hindu man breathes.
XYZ NGO – We are filing a petition to regulate Hindus’ breathing
NGT – Every Hindu will be allowed to take only 12 breaths per minute
SC – Make it 30 breaths per Hindu family
— Spaminder Bharti (@attomeybharti) December 13, 2017
Had heard of but didn’t know the might of the mantras was such that they could Mow Down Mountains ?#amarnath ban on #mandir #ghantaa #jaykaraas https://t.co/teMHR2vdPI
— Harsha Bhat (@rapapumpum) December 13, 2017
NGT should also direct, how much ‘prasad’ should be distributed, how many times ‘ghanti bajana’ is allowed, how many agarbattis to be used etc etc.. https://t.co/U67zWV0OXY
— Keh Ke Peheno (@coolfunnytshirt) December 13, 2017
As I tweeted earlier, History will remember @narendramodi govt for remaining a mute spectator while one after another Hindu shrines, Hindu festivals, Hindu traditions etc were successfully attacked by left-liberal institutions. https://t.co/44UEE9UA1m
— Raju Das | ৰাজু দাস (@rajudasonline) December 13, 2017
How is chanting of mantra related in any way to the environment? Someone please enlighten me https://t.co/V2sZj2qLJJ
— Gappistan Radio (@GappistanRadio) December 13, 2017
A BJP Delhi spokesperson outright challenged the tribunal:
I will go to Amarnath Yatra & Chant “Bam Bam Bhole” “Har Har Mahadev”. I challenge NGT to stop me if you can https://t.co/dW3bsHSr0Z
— Tajinder Bagga (@TajinderBagga) December 13, 2017
The national green tribunal in November had also decided to impose restrictions on the Vaishno Devi temple, which included capping the number of devotees to 50,000 per day.
