By: Irfan Ul Aziz Tantry

Haji Azam Dar (A True Pilgrim) Banihal according to Kalhan’s ‘Raj tiriangini’ is situated in the extreme south of Pargana Devsar and pargana Dooru. Banihal is the 1st place when we leave Jhelum valley and enter towards Chenab valley after crossing the historic Jawahar Tunnel on Srinagar- Jammu NHW. Banihal is a dominant place of Kashmieis and the largest Muslim populated Tehsil in Chenab valley as well as in Jammu division of J&K state. The 1st inhabitated place of Tehsil Banihal from Srinagar after crossing the tunnel is Panchayat Nowgam. Nowgam Panchayat comprises of three villages i.e. Nowgam, Kharkoot and Danar. The whole population of the Panchayat is of Kashmiries and at some higher reaches of the Panchayat i.e. Zaban and Tangiwar some Gujjars also reside. According to Dr. Margoob Banihali’s book ‘Kashmir across Peerpanchal’ the ancestors of people of Banihal have migrated from Kashmir valley’s Anantnag and Kulgam district. the people of Banihal are Kashmiries and they have maintained their own Kashmiri language, art and culture. After 1750 A.D, a resident of Nowgam village namely Mohammad Azam Dar starts his pilgrimage for Hajj by foot. According to the Dar family of Nowgam, he completed his by foot Hajj pilgrimage in 12 years. According to one old lady namely Taja W/o late Mohammad Amber Dar that, she heard from her elders that like other residents of Banihal the dar family of Nowgam also migrated from Kashmir Valley’s of Anantnag district. She said that I have heard from his elders that our co-ancestor Haji azam completes his pilgrimage in twelve years. And when Haji Azam dar returns after 12 years firstly he sit near Banihal town near Modern Mulberry Nursery, the people of Banihal see him and gathered towards him when they know by Haji Azam that, he is a resident of Nowgam and he completes his pilgrimage of Hajj by foot in12 years they arranged a special palki for him and sits him inside the palki and took him at his residence Nowgam Banihal, the whole population of Banihal came to meet him at Nowgam. The 1925 A.D born other resident of Nowgam Haji Khawaja Ghulam Hassan Wani, also said when I met him in the month of Jan. 2011, that i have heard from my grandfather, who tells me that he heard from his grandfather that the Haji Azam was of Nowgam and he completes his Hajj by foot in twelve years. It can also be imagine that Haji Azam would be 1st Haji of Jammu & Kashmir who completes his Hajj pilgrimage by foot and completes it in12 years. it is also imagined that Haji Azam has chosen the Kashmir- Lahore Iran, rout for his by foot pilgrimage. some elders of the area also said that the Shrine of Syed Sakhi Sarwar is also built firstly by this man and after constructed the shine Azam Dar gone of pilgrimage. The Dar family of Nowgam is known as Hajji’s by locals today. The by foot pilgrimage of Haji Azam is the real piece of love and affections of Haji Azam with Prophet Mohammad ( S.A.W).