Tourists visiting the Mawjymbuin Cave in Meghalaya’s Mawsynram were reportedly asked to remove their shoes and refrain from taking photographs by organisers of a Hindu religious yatra on Sunday, triggering criticism from various quarters, including local tribal groups.
Over 250 yatris arrived at the natural sandstone cave to offer prayers, drawing strong resentment from the Dorbar Shnong (village council) and many members of the local tribal community. Locals have consistently objected to attempts to designate the cave as a religious site, insisting it is a geological heritage location, not a shrine. Despite the tensions, yatra organisers were praised for maintaining cleaner surroundings this year, avoiding the litter that marred previous events.
Authorities deployed a heavy police presence, along with magistrates, to ensure peace and order during the procession. While the event concluded without incident, the underlying dispute over the cave’s identity—heritage site versus religious shrine—remains a point of contention between locals and outside religious groups.