Poonch: Abdul Ghani plays drums in the temple premises from morning till evening and at times till night. He said that about 25 years ago, two bears attacked him a few kilometres from the temple, seriously injuring him.
"The members of the temple management committee, the priest and the BSF battalion were here. The officials helped me. I recieved treatment, and the then Deputy Commissioner also helped me a lot. I sustained severe injuries on my arms, head and mouth in the bear attack. After several months I recovered but was unable to do any other work. Then I preferred to sit in this temple and play drums", Ghani said.
Budha Amarnath Temple is a sacred place of the Hindus located in the Mandi area of Poonch.
Every year millions of pilgrims from all over India visit this temple as part of their Amarnath Yatra.
According to the Hindu belief, the Amarnath Yatra will be incomplete until one gets the darshan of Budha Amarnath in Poonch. Pilgrims visiting Budha Amarnath are warmly welcomed here regardless of religion and caste.
Abdul Ghani belongs to Palira village in Tehsil Mandi and has been playing drums in the Budha Amarnath temple premises for the past 30 years. Pilgrims who visit the temple are entertained by him, and they help him financially, through which Ghani runs his expenses.
Ghani said, "Allah is one, but his names are different, I believe that Baba Budha Amarnath saved me, this is who I am, the people of the temple trust me a lot and I also trust them with my words and actions. They trust me, they let me stay in the temple premises, and they also give me food."
He further said that he also serves at Dargah in Aala Peer.
Jammu and Kashmir uphold a history of religious tolerance, mutual brotherhood and communal harmony. In this region of Poonch called the Crown of India, people of all religions, castes and colours live peacefully. Ghani is one such example among many others witnessed in the region. (with ANI inputs)
