Srinagar: Kashmir, the valley of hospitality, brotherhood and confluence of  some of the great religions and cultures where people of different religions whether Hindu, Muslims, Buddhists or Christians live together with peace and harmony through centuries.

Yasmeen Manzoor

Srinagar: Kashmir, the valley of hospitality, brotherhood and confluence of  some of the great religions and cultures where people of different religions whether Hindu, Muslims, Buddhists or Christians live together with peace and harmony through centuries.

Brotherhood can be seen everywhere in Kashmir,  people of different religions celebrate festivals together and stand for one another at tough times.The ethos of Kashmir culture has time and again withstood the travails and tribulations of time despite the currents of odds and challenges through different changing times.

One such example has come to fore from  south Kashmir’s Pulwama district of Achan village where Muslim community of the  area has come forward for the construction of the temple. Achan village was one of the major hindu populated area in Pulwama, almost 55 families were residing in the area before 90’s while  majority of the Hindu families have migrated from the area and at present only one Pandit family is left there living in harmony with the Muslims.

Muslims  showing solidary with the Pandit family, morally and financially are giving the helping hand to their Pandit brother in the construction of temple.

Nazir Ahmad a local resident said, “our religion teach us brotherhood and harmony, pandits  are part of our society, whenever we have any need they help us and we also help them whenever needed, we have grown up together, we celebrate the festivals together, whether “Hearth” or “Eid”.”

“We request Kashmiri Pandit to return to their homes, before 1990’s we used to share eachother’s joys and sorrows. We were taught by Pandits and were always there for each other in times of need and lived together as one happy family,” another local,  Bilal Ahmad said.

“We used to share walnuts, fried fishes during this festival.  We are incomplete without our Hindu brothers, and they should return and live among us like we used to live,” he further said.

Sanjay Kumar, the head of the Pandit family said, “It has been only possible through the contribution of our Muslim neighbours that we are able to build the temple,we never feel difference with each other, we are always there for each other,every person should believe in common brotherhood and try to maintain the communal harmony ,as all religions are promoting the peace, love and brotherhood.”(KNB)