PAMPORE, July 28: Hundreds of Kashmiri Pandits from across Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of the country gathered at the historic Mata Jawala Ji Temple in Khrew, Pampore, on Monday to celebrate the annual Haar Tshodah festival with religious fervour and devotion.
The festival, observed to commemorate the birth anniversary of Shri Jawala Mata Ji, holds deep religious and cultural significance for the Kashmiri Pandit community. Devotees offered special prayers, performed traditional rituals and sought blessings for peace, prosperity and well-being.
Witnesses said devotees continued to arrive at the shrine throughout the day, while the temple premises wore a festive look with religious ceremonies being conducted in an atmosphere of faith and devotion.
Pilgrims appreciated the elaborate arrangements made by the district administration and various departments for the smooth conduct of the festival. They expressed gratitude to the Civil Administration, Revenue Department, Municipal Committee Khrew, Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department, Health Department, Police and the Indian Army for ensuring a safe, peaceful and comfortable pilgrimage.
President of Jawala Ji Samiti Khrew, Mahraj Krishan Raina, expressed satisfaction over the arrangements and thanked the administration for extending full support.
“We are extremely satisfied with the arrangements made by all the line departments. Every facility we requested was provided in a timely manner, making the pilgrimage smooth and comfortable for the devotees. We sincerely thank the district administration and all the departments for their wholehearted support and cooperation,” he said.
The Indian Army organised a community langar and a free medical camp at the temple premises for the convenience of devotees.
The festival also reflected Kashmir’s longstanding tradition of communal harmony, with members of the local Muslim community from Khrew and adjoining villages extending a warm welcome to the visiting pilgrims. Local residents facilitated the availability of worship-related items and offered assistance to devotees throughout the day.
One World Aid Trust also organised a refreshment distribution programme at the shrine. Executive Member Faisal Bilal and other members of the trust welcomed the devotees and participated in the service initiative.
MLA Pampore Retired Justice Hasnain Masoodi visited the temple, interacted with members of the Kashmiri Pandit community and extended his greetings on the occasion. He assured the devotees of his continued support and said the Haar Tshodah festival symbolises Kashmir’s centuries-old tradition of communal harmony and brotherhood.
“This festival has always been celebrated collectively, with people from different faiths coming together to make it a success. Muslims, Sikhs and members of other communities have traditionally stood shoulder to shoulder with their Kashmiri Pandit brethren, setting a remarkable example of communal harmony. I personally reviewed the arrangements to ensure that every necessary facility was put in place for the smooth conduct of the festival,” Masoodi said.
Lok Janshakti Party leader and National Spokesperson of the Rashtriya Janshakti Party (RJP), Sanjay Saraf, also visited the shrine, interacted with devotees and conveyed his greetings.
“We celebrate this festival here every year with great devotion. I am grateful to the local people, the district administration, the police and all other security agencies for making excellent arrangements and ensuring the peaceful and smooth conduct of the festival,” Saraf said.
Meanwhile, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), Awantipora, visited the temple to review the arrangements. The officer inspected various facilities, interacted with the temple management and directed the concerned departments to ensure the availability of all essential services for the convenience of devotees.
The ADC was accompanied by the Executive Engineer, R&B Division Awantipora, Tehsildar Pampore Malik Asif Ahmad, Executive Officer of Municipal Committee Khrew, SHO Khrew Naieem Rashid, Assistant Executive Engineer (KPDCL) and other concerned officials.
Comments are closed.