June 23, 2007
Kashmir Lives Up To Tradition
of Hindu-Muslim Bonhomie By F. Ahmed
Khir Bhawani (Ganderbal)
As thousands of migrant Kashmiri pandits Saturday arrived here to
pay obeisance at a shrine, Muslims came out to welcome them in what
looked like the return of old times.
Nearly 20,000 pandits, from Delhi, Jammu, Haryana, Dehradun and
other parts of the country offered floral tributes to the Hindu
deity, Mata Ragyana, at her shrine in Tullamulla town of north
Kashmir.
In line with the age-old tradition, local Muslims came out in large
numbers and offered milk to their Hindu brethren outside the shrine.
"I am overwhelmed by the love and respect the Muslims have for us.
It is as if nothing has changed in Kashmir," said Ashok Koul, 38,
who came here from the state's winter capital Jammu to attend the
shrine's annual fair, Mela Khir Bhawani.
Koul has been coming here each year even after his family migrated
in 1990 with the outbreak of the armed separatist movement in the
state, which led to the exodus of thousands of Kashmiri pandits to
other parts of India.
According to Hindu mythology, the deity moved her abode from Sri
Lanka to here during the rein of demon king Ravana in the island.
Pandits believe the colour of the spring inside the shrine on the
annual festival foretells Kashmir's future.
"This year the colour of the water in the spring is slightly pinkish
indicating peace and prosperity during the coming year.
"In 1990, I remember the colour was murky which is symbolic of death
and destruction," said Chuni Lal Bhat, 67, who had come here all the
way from Dehradun with his family.
The devotees used buses, vans, cars and even two-wheelers to arrive
at the shrine.
"We have made elaborate arrangements for the convenience of the
devotees. Transport, medical facilities and security for them are
available all along the 24 km route from Srinagar to Khir Bhawani,"
said G.N. Bodha, district magistrate of Ganderbal.
Bodha has been personally supervising the arrangements outside the
shrine.
"Besides the concrete lodgings inside the shrine complex, we have
erected scores of tents for the devotees who offer prayers here
during the night," Bodha said.
The district magistrate also said the administration was fully
geared up with facilities to receive a record number of about
100,000 devotees expected to visit the shrine.
State Forest Minister Qazi Muhammad Afzal, who arrived here early
Saturday, received the devotees on behalf of the government and
enquired about the facilities that had been made for the devotees.
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