KPs, Muslims bridge gap at Durga temple

In this season of reunions and homecomings, Kashmir today took a significant step towards another reconciliation. For the first time, a grou...

In this season of reunions and homecomings, Kashmir today took a significant step towards another reconciliation. For the first time, a group of Kashmiri Pandits and Muslims, including a senior separatist leader, gathered at an old Durga temple to celebrate Navratra.

8216;8216;This is a real celebration. We have come together after 15 years,8217;8217; said Sarlati Koul, who has come from Anantnag. 8216;8216;We hope this festival marks the beginning of a better future for all Kashmiris. We want to live in harmony with our Muslim neighbours as we have done for generations,8217;8217; said Koul.

The congregation was organised by the Hindu Welfare Society 8212; a group representing the 7,000 Kashmiri Pandits who stayed behind.

Senior separatist leader and chairman of Democratic Freedom Party, Shabir Ahmad Shah, also participated as did Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and his three Cabinet colleagues. 8216;8216;We had invited all the separatist leaders,8217;8217; said Sanjay Tikoo, a member of the Society.

And when Shah stood up to speak, it was clear that Kashmir had made another beginning to heal the wounds of the Hindu-Muslim divide. 8216;8216;Kashmir is a garden. And a garden has to have all kinds of flowers in it,8217;8217; he said.

Shah said whenever there will be a dialogue on J-K, it won8217;t move forward without taking Kashmiri Pandits in confidence.

The Pandits are also elated at the reopening of the road to Muzaffarabad. The LoC hasn8217;t left their families divided but they are separated from one of their holiest shrines 8212; Sharda Devi temple 8212; at Neelam valley in PoK. 8216;8216;We want to visit the Mata8217;s temple,8217;8217; Koul said. 8216;8216;Now that the road has reopened we are hopeful that we will also allowed to go there.8217;8217;

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The CM promised the Pandits the government will ensure that they are allowed to visit the shrine across the LoC. 8216;8216;We would take up the issue with Pakistan soon,8217;8217; he said.

Mufti also appealed to the migrant Hindus and Muslims to return to the Valley, saying his government is setting up colonies for them.

Bashaarat Masood

Bashaarat Masood is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express. He has been covering Jammu and Kashmir, especially the conflict-ridden Kashmir valley, for two decades. Bashaarat joined The Indian Express after completing his Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University in Kashmir. He has been writing on politics, conflict and development. Bashaarat was awarded with the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2012 for his stories on the Pathribal fake encounter. Expertise and Experience Two Decades of Frontline Reporting: Bashaarat has spent 20 years documenting the evolution of Kashmir, from high-intensity conflict and political shifts to socio-economic development. Award-Winning Investigative Journalism: He is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award (2012). This honor was bestowed for his reporting on the Pathribal fake encounter, a series of stories that highlighted his ability to handle sensitive human rights and security issues with investigative rigor. Specialized Beats: His authoritative coverage spans: Political Transitions: Tracking the shift from statehood to Union Territory, electoral dynamics, and the pulse of local governance. Security & Conflict: Providing nuanced reporting on counter-insurgency, civil liberties, and the impact of the conflict on the civilian population. Development: Documenting the infrastructure, healthcare, and educational landscape within the Valley. Academic Background: He holds a Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University of Kashmir, providing him with a localized academic and professional foundation that is rare in regional reporting. ... Read More