Tantra retreat that ran into trouble in Goa now courts controversy in Kashmir
Source Entity
Bashaarat Masood
A proposed 'Tantra in Silence' retreat in Kashmir's Gurez valley has sparked intense political and religious backlash. Leaders including Mehbooba Mufti and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq are demanding the event's cancellation, citing concerns over public morality and past controversies.
The Controversy Over 'Tantra in Silence' in Kashmir
A proposed four-day retreat titled 'Tantra in Silence,' scheduled to be held in the Gurez Valley of Jammu and Kashmir from September 24 to 27, has ignited a significant public and political firestorm. The event, organized by the Shree Rajneesh Foundation and led by Swami Dhyan Sumit, has drawn immediate condemnation from prominent political and religious figures, who are calling for an outright ban and police intervention.
Political and Religious Opposition
The opposition to the event is spearheaded by former Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti, alongside Kashmir’s chief cleric, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and Grand Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam. These leaders have urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to take decisive action to prevent the retreat, framing the event as a form of exploitation and an affront to the local cultural and religious sensitivities of the region.
Echoes of Previous Controversies
Central to the opposition's argument is the historical record of the organizers. Mehbooba Mufti has specifically pointed to a previous iteration of this retreat that faced severe public outcry in Goa last year, ultimately leading to its cancellation. By highlighting this precedent, critics are attempting to establish a pattern of behavior that they believe warrants preemptive administrative action in the Gurez Valley.
The Role of the Shree Rajneesh Foundation
Swami Dhyan Sumit, who heads the Shree Rajneesh Foundation, is at the heart of the discourse. Critics have labeled him a 'self-styled godman' and have expressed deep skepticism regarding the nature of the 'Tantra' practices being promoted. The tension reflects a broader societal conflict between the promotion of alternative spiritual movements and the preservation of traditional values in a conservative region like Kashmir.
Broader Implications for Regional Stability
The demand for police action by high-profile leaders suggests that the issue is being viewed not merely as a local cultural dispute, but as a matter of public order. The intervention of both political leadership and religious clergy underscores the high stakes involved in managing public events that are perceived to be controversial or incompatible with local norms.
Future Trends and Administrative Challenges
As the scheduled dates for the retreat approach, the pressure on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to resolve the impasse continues to grow. The outcome of this situation will likely set a significant precedent for how the Jammu and Kashmir administration handles similar requests for spiritual or alternative-living retreats in the future, balancing the right to assembly with the maintenance of communal harmony and public order.