Shrines in Socio-Psycho Perspective: A Case Study of Kashmir Valley

Kashmir is widely known for Shrines and pilgrimage centers of diverse faiths such as Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam. With the onset of Islam toward the end of 12^th century AD various shrines and tombs associated with different Silsilas (schools of thought ) came into existence as a consequence of which Valley acclaimed a title of Pir-i-Weird; the valley of saints. Thus there is hardly any part of Kashmir where shrines and Khangahs are not located. These shrines have been the source of mobilization for all shades of life. The pilgrimage to shrines is an essential part of the religious behavior of the Kashmiri people. Thus social and behavioral aspects of pilgrims are to be explained in the context of wider cultural sphere which is enrooted into the customs, folkways and mores that have assumed a vital significance in the religious behavior of pilgrims. The ritual disposition at the shrine does not only help the pilgrims in gaining the religio- spiritual solace but as well the needs of socio-psychological nature. Given the increasing nature of personal and public troubles, these shrines have emerged as centers of healing .Therefore; ethno- methodological approach is relevant to seek empirical reality of the shrine visiting in the holistic manner. This paper would focus on gender, youth and aged in order to locate out the role of shrines in the everyday life of pilgrims.