Meghalaya High Court Approves Pilgrimage to Mawjymbuin Cave with Conditions
Conditional Approval for Mawjymbuin Cave Pilgrimage
Shillong, July 12: The High Court of Meghalaya has granted conditional permission for a pilgrimage to the sacred Mawjymbuin Cave located in the Mawsynram region of the East Khasi Hills district. The court highlighted the importance of maintaining peace, order, and respect for local sentiments during this event.
Justice H. S. Thangkhiew, who presided over the single-judge bench, issued this ruling on Friday in response to a petition that sought to facilitate the pilgrimage, which is considered holy by the petitioners.
The court acknowledged that all parties involved had come to an agreement to implement specific measures to ensure that the pilgrimage proceeds in a respectful and harmonious manner.
As per the court's instructions, pilgrims are prohibited from performing any puja or religious rituals inside the cave, and they are not allowed to bring items intended for such practices. Only a symbolic sprinkling of water on the sacred stone within the cave is permitted, while excessive pouring of water is strictly forbidden.
District authorities have been tasked with overseeing the pilgrimage to ensure it is conducted peacefully and orderly. Furthermore, the event organizer has been directed to hire private security personnel or volunteers to act as traffic wardens and manage the flow of attendees.
The court stressed that the pilgrimage should be conducted with dignity and respect for local customs, avoiding any disruption to traffic or littering in the area.
"Despite concerns raised by village authorities regarding the pouring of water on the stone, the court decided that only symbolic sprinkling will be allowed to maintain fairness and justice," the order stated.
The Dorbar Shnong of Mawsynram Village has provided an undertaking supporting the pilgrimage under the specified conditions.
The case is scheduled for further hearing on July 31, by which time the involved parties are expected to finalize and inform the district authorities of the exact date for the pilgrimage.