In what can be seen as winds of change happening with regard to existence of Kashmiri Pandits in Kashmir Valley, the place is witnessing revival and reliving of rituals which once used to be performed prior to the exodus of the community over three decades back from their homeland on account of terrorism. The members of the community staying in Valley took out a 'rath yatra' as part of Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations, a first since the eruption of militancy 35 years back.
The procession began from the Ganpatyar temple in the Habba Kadal area of the city here. The Pandit community also undertook Ganpati visarjan in the the Jhelum."A Rath yatra was taken out from Ganpatyar temple and Ganesh ji was immersed in the Jhelum," activist Sanjay Tickoo said.He said the procession was "the first time after the eruption of militancy" in the Valley. "We prayed that natural disasters stop and all people, irrespective of caste, creed or religion, live together with love. We prayed that we are safeguarded from such natural disasters," Tickoo said.
The Kashmiri Pandit leader said the community has been organising Ganpati Visarjan in the Valley for the last three years. The five-day celebrations, which concluded on Sunday, were observed with devotion and festive spirit. He said the procession was “the first time after the eruption of militancy” in the Valley.
While majority of the KP community left Kashmir Valley under forced and compulsive circumstances when militancy erupted way back in early 90's, there were few thousand who chose to stay back out of their circumstances. They used to celebrate the festivals and observe rituals in a subtle way all these years, it is for the first time the community members are fearlessly coming out of homes to participate and perform the rituals outside homes in a gala manner, on the same pattern and flow as used to be seen pre exodus era.
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