Peerzada Sayeed
Karnah Kupwara:In a historic Diwali celebration, the Sharda Yatra temple near the Line of Control (LoC) in Teetwal, Kashmir, was illuminated with candles and oil lamps, drawing a large gathering of Kashmiri Pandits, locals, and army personnel. Participants came together to mark the festival of lights by illuminating the temple, sharing sweets, and paying homage at the sacred site.
Ajaz Khan, a prominent member of the reconstruction committee, led the celebration, which was described as momentous, drawing comparisons to Diwali festivities in Ayodhya. Ravinder Pandita, head of Save Sharda Committee, extended Diwali greetings to Sharda followers globally and renewed his request to the governments of India and Pakistan to open the Sharda route via Teetwal. He emphasized that reopening the route would allow more pilgrims to access the temple, enabling them to perform puja and reconnect with a vital part of their cultural heritage.
The Save Sharda Committee has spearheaded the temple’s reconstruction, along with the restoration of a Sikh Gurdwara on the same site. Both structures, once part of a historic complex that included a Dharmshala, were destroyed in the tribal raids of 1947. The near-complete reconstruction is a significant step in preserving the shared heritage and promoting cross-border spiritual ties in the region.
