Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board bans pigeon feeding, Tehri at shrines, tweaks order after uproar

SRINAGAR: As Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board chairperson Darakhshan Andrabi today announced prohibition of the feeding of birds and distribution of food items within the premises of all Waqf shrines across Jammu and Kashmir, it has created uproar in the Valley with many describing the directive as unnecessary.Announcing the decision early Sunday Andrabi, who is senior BJP leader, said that devotees, visitors and others should strictly comply with the order. She said the restrictions were aimed at maintaining cleanliness, hygiene, sanctity and a peaceful environment at the shrines.According to her, feeding birds and distributing food items could attract stray animals, lead to unhygienic conditions and cause inconvenience or disturbance to devotees engaged in prayers and worship.J&K Waqf Board doesn’t come under the elected Jammu and Kashmir government. “I am asking people to not bring Tehri to any shrine and I am asking that there should be no bird feeding. And I am announcing a ban on both these things. People should cooperate,” she announced the directive while talking to the media.In Kashmir bird feeding and distributing traditional Kashmiri yellow rice called Tehri is centuries old tradition. Tehri is prepared with turmeric, salt and mustard oil or ghee and cooked in large quantities and then distributed to devotees, children and passersby at the shrines as an act of faith and charity and it holds immense cultural, emotional and spiritual significance. Political leaders are asking Andrabi to reconsider her decision.National Conference leader Salman Sagar described it as another bad and unfortunate decision of Waqf.” It is interference in a place with which people are emotionally and spiritually connected. They just want to destroy everything spiritual here. The Waqf Board should focus on infrastructure development, creating universities and hospitals providing clean washrooms and rest rooms around shrines, which she has not done.Only thing the BJP leader does is play politics as Waqf chairperson and play spiritual practices of people,” Sagar said. A PDP representative Arif Amin said Tehri and feeding pigeons are centuries-old Khanqah traditions. “Banning them in the name of cleanliness isn’t just about right or wrong, it’s about the hope and healing of people who have suffered,” he said. “You cannot clean a shrine by erasing its soul. Fiddling with faith is unacceptable,” he said.Many others, however, argued that pigeons are very aggressive and they multiply rapidly. “Wherever Pigeons flock and stay, other birds simply disappear. Eagles and kites used to keep pigeons in check but those birds have also completely disappeared. Pigeons are responsible for spreading many diseases including those related to the chest and lungs.”Others also reacted sharply forcing Andrabi to slightly change her verbal directions. “There is no blanket ban on pigeon feeding or Tehri distribution. There is no directive. It is my own request that it shouldn’t be done inside the shrine as it creates a huge problem for us with stray dogs entering into the shrines,” she said. “I myself believe in these traditions but there should be a proper way to feed birds and distribute rice and people should adhere to cleanliness norms,” Andrabi told the TOI.Stay updated with the latest Srinagar news. Download the TOI App.