SRINAGAR: Kashmiri Pandits across the Valley and abroad are celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi, locally known as Vinayak Tchoram, with devotion and joy, with major festivities taking place at temples in Srinagar and Anantnag.
The celebrations, which began on 27 August, are being marked at the historic Siddhivinayak Ganpatyar Mandir in Srinagar, the All PM Package Employees Welfare Association’s Shiv Temple at Indira Nagar, and the Vessu KP Colony in Anantnag, South Kashmir. Religious ceremonies including Hawan (sacred fire rituals) and distribution of Prasad have been organised by the respective temple committees.
The events are supported by the Shri Bausaheb Rangari Trust, Pune, headed by philanthropist Shri Punit Balan, which has once again provided eco-friendly Ganesha idols to ensure environmentally conscious celebrations.
A five-day cultural programme, featuring Bhajan evenings, is being held alongside the religious rituals to strengthen community bonds. The festivities will culminate with traditional immersion processions on 31 August and 2 September, when the idols will be carried from the temples to the banks of the Jhelum River.
A distinctive feature of the festival is Pann Pooza, the preparation of a sacred sweet bread offering to Lord Ganesha, which is later shared among family and friends as a symbol of unity.
Despite the turbulent years of militancy, local Muslim residents have continued to witness and in some cases participate in the celebrations, reflecting a tradition of communal harmony in the Valley. Organisers have highlighted this shared spirit of respect and brotherhood as integral to the festival.
The temple committees expressed gratitude to Shri Punit Balan and the Rangari Trust for their contribution and appealed to devotees and well-wishers to join the celebrations, reinforcing the spirit of faith and togetherness.
