Naveed ul Haq
Budgam, Aug 24: Kashmiri Pandits from different parts of the country on Thursday assembled at the annual Hawan function of Regenya Mata Asthapan temple and performed Maha Yagye (Hawan) at Raithan area of Budgam district.
Mohan Lal, a senior citizen while performing Hawan said that is happy returning to an ancient Asthapan after a long time and celebrating the festival with Muslim neighbours.
They said the event was a “symbol of hope and reconciliation” for all the communities in the valley.
“We are very grateful to our Muslim brothers because they have helped us more than what we had expected. If we are worshiping here and staying here for the night, all this is possible only when our majority community are by our side,” he said.
Thanking villagers, he said that they preserved Asthapan till now and even in the most difficult situations, they did not allow anyone to harm it.
Setting an example of communal harmony and brotherhood, the local Muslims came together to extend best wishes to Pandits and helped the devotees in the smooth celebration of the religious event.
“The event was held for second continuous year after covid and we received a lot of love from the locals,” said a visiting devotee, Bhushan Lal.
“The humanity is still alive in the people of Kashmir and we had spent the time here due to the trust and strong brotherhood with our Muslim neighbours,” he added.
