Public figures and clergy in Jammu and Kashmir have expressed outrage over a planned four-day 'spiritual' event in the picturesque Gus Valley. The event is being organized by a self-proclaimed guru, whose similar project in Goa last year was cancelled after its allegedly indecent promotional materials sparked widespread controversy.
Mehbooba Mufti, former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and president of the PDP party, and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, chairman of the Hurriyat Conference, appealed to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday to intervene and stop the 'Tantra Silence' retreat.
Mehbooba wrote on X, stating: 'The poster advertises the 'Tantra Silence' retreat in Gus Valley, Srinagar. A similar 'Tantra' retreat, organized by Swami Dhyan Sumit, a self-proclaimed guru promoting a new religion under the aegis of the Shri Rajnish Foundation, was cancelled in Goa last year after its indecent promotional materials provoked widespread controversy, and the Goa police intervened. Gus is not a playground for experiments in the name of spirituality or tourism,'—and urged the head of the Jammu and Kashmir government to take immediate appropriate action.
Mirwaiz noted that holding such a program in Gus, Kashmir, is outrageous, given that a similar event by this organization was cancelled by the police in Goa due to public indignation over the indecent details of the advertising. He emphasized that Kashmir is the land of Sufis and saints, where spirituality is experienced, not sold. Furthermore, he stated that promoting tourism should not be a reason to undermine the religious, cultural, and social fabric of the region, ignoring the values and feelings of the residents, and called on the head of the Jammu and Kashmir government to pay attention to this 'exploitation.'
Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam, Grand Mufti of Jammu and Kashmir, reported that he took seriously the information about the alleged 'Tantra in Silence' retreat, which is reportedly scheduled for September 24 to 27 in the Gus Valley. He pointed out that the public has raised questions regarding the organizers, content, and suitability of the program for this region, as it is advertised as a meditative retreat. He also stressed that Gus is not just a tourist destination but an integral part of Kashmir's sacred cultural landscape, shaped by generations of faith, scholarship, and spiritual tradition, and its hospitality must never be understood as indifference to its moral and cultural character.
He recommended that the government verify the organizers, examine the full program and its promotional materials, ensure the necessary permissions are provided, and guarantee that no activity contradicting the law or legitimate religious and cultural sensitivities of the people will be permitted.
Meanwhile, as the situation escalated, the Bandipora district administration issued a statement late Saturday, stating that permission for the event had not been granted. The statement advised the public and tourists not to rely on such unauthorized advertisements.
Bandipora Deputy Commissioner Indu Kanwal did not answer phone calls. After the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, the Gus Valley in Bandipora district along the Line of Control became one of Kashmir's fastest-growing tourist destinations, receiving a huge influx of tourists.
