Kashmiri Pandits
Jammu and Kashmir: Members of Mulim community join Kashmiri Pandits in celebrating Kheer Bhawani festival in Ganderbal
Srinagar: Kashmiri Pandits recently celebrated the annual Kheer Bhawani festival in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ganderbal district and prayed for peace in the valley.
People of the Muslim community also joined the celebration.
The Pandits offered prayers on the occasion of Zyeshta Ashtami.
Pandits participated in the festival amid an environment of tension created due to the recent instances of targeted killings in the Valley.
Speaking to ANI on Wednesday, Dr Sandeep, a Kashmiri Pandit, said, “We have come here to keep the tradition of our ancestors alive. It’s a moment of pride to come back to our own Valley and meet our Muslim and Sikh brothers. We seek blessings from the Lord. This time the number of devotees this year was far less than in the past due to the prevailing atmosphere of fear. Pakistan does not want that the Hindus and Muslims and all regions live in peace in India.”
“Kheer Bhawani’s Mandir is one of the revered places for the Kashmiri Pandits. Even the Muslims came along with me here,” he added.
Dr Rizwan, a Muslim man, who had come along with his Pandit friend, told ANI that the “actual Kashmiriyat” is being visible here.
“It is a unique festival. The actual Kashmiriyat is visible here. We have seen terrorism for long. But the Kashmiriyat that the Kashmiri people were known for all across the world. It is unfortunate that there are not many people around because of the recent killings. I just appeal to my Hindu brothers not to make their nefarious designs successful by being afraid,” he said.
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