SRINAGAR: As part of the Banmass Mela, hundreds of Kashmiri Pandits assembled at the Martand sun temple in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday. They came together to perform “pind daan” and offer prayers for the peace of their departed ancestors.
Ashok Siddha, the president of the mela management committee, expressed his gratitude to the local Muslims and the Anantnag district administration for their wholehearted support in organising the event. “I am thankful to the locals. The Muslim brethren have supported us. I have been engaged in this for the last four years, and I am thankful to the Muslim community. I am also thankful to the district administration,” he stated.
Siddha highlighted the communal harmony and peace that exists between the communities, citing their celebration of Krishna Jhoola, during which the Muslim community actively supports by distributing fruits. He remarked, “We also celebrate Krishna Jhoola, and the Muslim community actively supports that festival as well. This is an example of communal harmony and peace.”
The festival is observed every three years, but this year’s event saw an unprecedented number of people attending since 1990. A special ghat for pooja and toilet facilities for the devotees were established to accommodate the gathering.
Meenakshi, one of the devotees who performed “pind daan,” praised the locals and emphasised their good relations with them. She said, “We do pind daan for our ancestors so that their souls are blessed. The locals are good, we have good relations with them.”
Jawahar Lal Pandita, an elderly Kashmiri Pandit, also acknowledged the cooperation extended by the local community, highlighting the support and camaraderie between them.
A local Muslim resident from Mattan expressed his pride in the town’s legacy of peace and communal harmony, stating that it will continue to remain so in the future.
