Early Times Report
Srinagar, Apr 29: Emotional scenes were witnessed when migrant Pandits meet Muslims on the reopening of a 200-year-old temple after more than 25 years in the downtown Srinagar.
It was an emotional reunion when Pandits who had migrated to different parts of the country, particularly Jammu, were joined by local Muslims at Rainawari in the downtown, when a Vaittal Bhairav temple at Motiyar was reopened for puja.
"Because of the help and assistance provided by local Muslims, we could repair and renovate the temple which was damaged during all these years," said Pandits. "We are very happy to be in our birthplace in the Kashmir valley," said the migrant Pandits adding in fact their wish has been fulfilled by 'bagwan" (God).
They said many elderly persons of the community had died without getting any chance to visit their birthplace. But because of encouragement by local Muslims they are here. "Nothing has changed, we find Muslims, including women, very helpful," said a group of women devotees who had come from Jammu to participate in a "havan".
"We prayed for peace and prosperity in the valley so that we return to this heaven on earth," they said, adding local Muslims had taken care of the temple during all these years.
Muslims also turned emotion when they met their neighbours after more than two decades. Members of all the religions were living in the Valley with peace, joining in each others sorrow and joy. But things suddenly changed and everything was destroyed, they said and expressed hope that situation would become normal again and all people will live together.
The temple had remained closed since early 90s when majority members of the Kashmiri Pandit families migrated to different parts of the country following eruption of militancy. |
