Massive Hindu Pilgrimage Melting Sacred Glacier

Filed under "Oh, now what?".

Between June and August each year, Hindu pilgrims complete the Amarnath Yatra, an arduous trek to a holy cave high up in the Himalayan glaciers near the border with Pakistan, in Indian-controlled Kashmir. In the past five years, the number of people making the trip has nearly doubled. (See a map of the region.)

In 2011, more than 650,000 people visited the cave. The increased human traffic is threatening the environment in this fragile ecosystem, a major source of water for the Indus River. Scientists are now grappling with how to protect the headwaters of the Indus, while giving reverence to religion, culture, and politics.

Hindu Holy man Swami Rama Krishna's bright orange robes stand out like a flame against the throngs of Hindu pilgrims who've come from across the globe to go on the Amarnath Yatra. Undeniable anticipation registers on Swami Krishna's otherwise tranquil face.

Now in the third and final day of his 30-mile journey, he will soon see what Hindus consider to be one of the most holy places on Earth. The pilgrims believe that over 5,000 years ago Lord Shiva, one of the religion's most revered deities, revealed the secret of immortality and creation of the universe in an enormous cave high up in these snowcapped peaks. The ultimate goal of their journey is to go inside the sacred cave to see an ice stalagmite or ice lingam they think is the mark of Lord Shiva.

More: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/03/120312-hindu-pilgrimage-stresses-fragile-himalaya-environment/