Huge rush of devotees after 30 years

Pampore: Hundreds of Kashmiri Pandits participated in the annual Nowdal Teerath Yatra at the Sub Division Tral area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Sunday. The festival saw a huge rush of devotees after a gap of 30 years.
Eyewitnesses told Kashmir Reader that scores of Kashmiri Pandits including non-migrants and migrants thronged Nowdal village of Tral to take part in the pooja.
The devotees were seen doing Bhajans, Pooja and Tarpan of their belongings like walking sticks, shoes and clothes. A Hawan was also lit on the occasion.
Members from the Muslim community and local administration had made elaborate arrangements for the devotees. The volunteers were serving bottles of fresh water and other eatables to the devotees.
During the annual festival once again an example of brotherhood and communal harmony was seen when the Muslims participated in this Tirth festival and made excellent arrangements for the devotees belonging to the Pandit and Hindu community.
“Kashmiri singers have proved that they are with brotherhood and peace by singing Bhajan and they want the Pandit community to come back to Kashmir and live with the Kashmiri people,” said a Pandit.
Chairman Temple Shrine Praband Committee Tral/ Awantipora, Dr Ramesh Kumar Bhat, said that they call this auspicious day ‘Nowdal Choerum’ in accordance with Panchang.
He said that this day is celebrated to mark the culmination of Amarnath Yatra following various religious traditions. He said that this is an age-old tradition. “We are very thankful to local community members for according warm welcome to devotees, ” he said, adding that they prayed for peace and progress and fostering of communal harmony and brotherhood among different sects of the society.
Farooq Ahmad Trali, Chairman, Citizen Council Tral, said that the festival was observed in its past glory after a gap of 30 years. “The citizen council Tral, Fruit Mandi and Village Welfare Committee, welcomed devotees with their open hearts,” he said.
He added that they pray for the return of migrant Kashmiri Pandits to the valley.
During the occasion, politicians from various parties also visited the shrine and greeted the devotees present there. The politicians include Member Parliament Anantnag Constituency Retired Justice Hasnain Masoodi, BJP spokesperson Altaf Thakur and local DDC and BDC member Avtar Singh, Dr Harbaksh Singh.
The Nowdal Teerath Yatra is celebrated every year on the Chaturti of Krishna Paksh of Bader month, following the conclusion of the Shri Amarnath Pilgrimage.
The central focus of this sacred journey is a Shiv Lingam located at a spring, which is venerated with great devotion on this auspicious day.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Sub Division Tral Saajid Yehaya Naquash took stock of the facilities of the Teerath Yatra Festival in Nowdal village of Tral on Saturday.

BILAL HABIB