Srinagar, Feb 21: Kashmiri Pandits on Monday expressed gratitude to the joint resistance leadership for calling off strike on February 24 in view of the Pandit festival Shivratri popularly called Herath in J&K.
The Pandits living in Kashmir, while welcoming the decision of joint resistance leadership – Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik – asserted that calling off the strike on Herath “would further strengthen the bond between Kashmiri Pandits and Muslims.”
According to a statement issued by the joint resistance leadership, in view of the Shivratri festival celebrations in the state, strike call issued for February 24 (Friday) has been called off. “We have an exemplary tradition of mutual brotherhood and for ages we are living in harmony. While issuing resistance programme (last week), we did not notice the upcoming festival. Later, members from Pandit community drew our attention towards the issue and after consultations, resistance leadership called off the proposed strike for Friday,” the joint statement issued here said.
Kashmiri Pandit Sangarsh Samiti (KPSS) headed by Sanjay Tickoo said that Herath is “king of festivals” for them. “It is good that better sense prevailed and the joint resistance leadership called off the strike called for February 24,” he said. “It’s not like that we would not be able to celebrate the festival if there is a curfew or a strike, but there has to be a festive look in our homes, streets, and temples. Calling off the strike will help us celebrate the festival with full religious gaiety.”
He said on the second day of Herath, which is popularly known as “Salaam”, Muslims visit the Pandits and greet them. “This is a sign of brotherhood and a communal harmony,” Tickoo said.Well known Kashmiri Pandit, Dr Amit Wanchoo, who heads Space Communications, thanked the joint resistance leadership for rolling back the strike call on Shivratri. “By calling off the strike, the trust between the members of Pandit and Muslims communities has been further cemented. This will send a message across the world that there is no scope for communalism in Kashmir,” said Wanchoo.
Bhushan Lal, another KP, from South Kashmir’s Kulgam district, said that they have been celebrating Herath which involves Muslim community members. “Many Muslim members visit our homes on the next day and greet us. This Herath, we will pray for the peaceful resolution of Kashmir issue so that hartals, curfews, restrictions end once for all,” he said.
For Kashmiri Pandits, Shivratri is the crown of festivals, and is spread over a full fortnight of the Phalguna month. Among the Pandits this is known as Herath, a phonetic derivation of Har-ratri, the night of Hara (Shiva).
“It is a socio-religious function that is the very part of our life. The Shivratri symbolises the wedding of the two, and on this occasion the Bhairavas and other Ganas accompanying Lord Shiva are fed with choicest dishes up to the fill and to their satisfaction,” said a group of Pandit women in Habba Kadal area of old Srinagar.
For Pandit festival, resistance leaders call off strike
