Something is cooking at the centre

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh along with his Home Minister seems very keen currently to do something about the long standing so-called Kashmir Problem. Their proposed immediate and serious parleys with the separatist leaders of Kashmir smells foul. Both secret as well as open diplomacy is at work. There are indications that the activity is a result of severe diplomatic pressure especially from the US who want the problem solved according to the aspirations of the people of Kashmir as soon as possible. The reason of this urgency is not very far to seek. The recent trend of anti-India public mobilization of massive crowds by the separatists in Kashmir that started in the wake of Amarnath land row and continued this year in the form of public protests against India in Shopian and the aftermath has given a cause to the world community to pressurize India. It’s no secret that the separatist leaders continue to remain on the fore of Kashmir polity by exploiting the religious sentiment of Kashmiri Muslim on one count or the other otherwise they have never been publically accepted as popular leaders in Kashmir. What’s emerging now out of these wide protests is again a point of concern for all the nationalists both inside and outside Jammu and Kashmir State. These protests seem to have rung the corridors of power so severely at the international level particularly at the behest of Pakistan that India is keen to settle the issue on now or never basis. How India is retracing her steps in her stand regarding Kashmir day in and day out is quite obvious. The authorities at the helm in Delhi bank upon only a few self styled so called separatist leaders and ignore blatantly the sentiments of people throughout the state, both inside and outside valley, who in fact do not want any change in the current arrangement of the state. The authorities in Delhi have succumbed to the international pressure to the extent that they consider the opinion of these separatist elements paramount and ignore the emotions of the masses in the entire state of J&K. These separatist leaders do at best represent a negligible number of Kashmir Muslims who’re not happy with the policies of the present state government. They’re the same people who have been pampered by the GOI all these years by making them important just to make them suitable contestants for the settlement of Kashmir issue?
The GOI seems to coddle an idea of carving an independent Muslim State within the secular fabric of this country and what the repercussions of the plan would be are not far to seek. It’ll be a second partition of the country on the basis of religion and naturally those whom it would not suit will try to leave for their safety and thus the history of 1947 would repeat along with all its horrible aftermath. It’ll be nonetheless termed as a complete surrender to the anti-national elements throughout India bent upon weakening this nation to fulfill their nefarious designs besides a compromise with those a few people actively sponsored by Pakistan and her allies. It’s no secret that these self-styled leaders have been outright rejected by the masses in Kashmir by participating in large numbers in the State as well as Parliament elections recently. As is smelt from the urgency and the style of diplomacy shown by the present GOI there seems some deep rooted conspiracy working behind the curtain which has prompted the government to bypass all traditional policies vis-à-vis Kashmir and act irresponsibly in the case of a very sensitive issue......... (not concluded)

SHRI SHA'RIKA AS'TUTI

Shri Sha’rika Asthapan is an ancient and the holiest of the holy shrine of Kashmir situated in the periphery of Srinagar. It’s the abode of Jagatamba Sharika Bagwati also known as Maha-Tripursundari or Raja-Rajeshuri. The eighteen armed Goddess is considered the presiding deity of Srinagar city. The Goddess Sharika is represented by a self-made Srichakra also called Mahashriyantra, which consists of circular mystic impressions and triangular patterns with a dot (bindhu) at the Centre. The holy Srichakra is engraved on a vertical holy rock (Shila) located at the middle of western face of Hari Parbat. Shri-Yantra is the most auspicious, most powerful Yantra worshipped for attaining all worldly desires. The saints and spiritually elevated persons devote themselves to it and achieve liberation from the cares of the world. The shrine called ‘Chakrishwar’ can be approached by a flight of one hundred and eight chiseled stones. The number one hundred and eight has a mystical significance in Hindu mythology.
The following As’tuti (devotional poetry), penned by a Kashmir Saint and a fervent devotee of Maa Sha’rika Swami Krishna Joo Kaar in Persian Language is very popular among the devotees of the goddess. For the interest of the readers and the devotees of Maa Sha’rika the verses are translated into English.
Awal Tu’yee, Aa’khir Tuyee; Zaa’hir Tu’yee, Baa’tin Tu’yee;
Haa’zir Tu’yee, Na’zir Tuyee--- Shree Shari’kaa Devi Na’mah.
You’re the beginning, you’re the end. You’re the manifested, you’re the un-manifested. You’re the omnipresent and you’re the veiled ----- I offer my salutations to thee, Mother Sharika!
Dee’vi Jagat Maa’ta Tu’yee; Shiv Shak’ti Gur Data;
Maa’ta Tu’yee, Bra’ta Tu’yee--- Shree Shari’kaa Deevi Na’mah.
You’re the mother goddess of the universe. You’re both Shiva and Shakti and satisfier of all benedictions. You’re both mother and brother to me --- I offer my salutations to thee, Mother Sharika!
Ha’jat Rawa’yay Aal’may; Shah-E-Jahane Ak’rami;
Ka’yim Muqame Day’mi--- Shree Shari’kaa Dee’vi Na’mah.
You’re the fulfiller of all wishes for the whole world. You’re the greatest of the great ruler of the world. Your kingdom is eternal ------- I offer my salutations to thee, Mother Sharika!
A’az Har Sae Karan Bar’tari; Dar’har Du-Aalam Sar’vari;
Har Farq An’dhar Af’sari--- Shree Shari’kaa Dee’vi Na’mah.
You’re beyond the three Gunas --- Sattva, Rajas and Tamas, the three fundamental human attributes. You’re far superior to whatever is good in these two worlds (Aakash and the Earth). You enjoy the most superior authority in both these worlds ---- I offer my salutations to thee, Mother Sharika!
Seem-O-Zar’o Bahar’e Du’ree; Lo’laye Lae’le Gow’hary;
Ze’be Do-Aa’lam An’wari--- Shree Shari’kaa Dee’vi Na’mah.
You’re the ocean of gold, silver and diamond. You’re the storehouse of the choice of the choicest jewels. You’re the source of all beauty of the two worlds ---- I offer my salutations to thee, Mother Sharika!
Sa’ham-O-Gazan’far Waha’nat; Shiv Ji Hast Zier’e Aasanat;
Laal-O-Jawahir Dama’nat ---- Shree Shari’kaa Dee’vi Na’mah.
The lion and the bullock, both are your vehicles to ride on. Lord Shiva is stationed under your sitting mat. The lower edge of you garment is fitted with most precious jewels ----- I offer my salutations to thee, Mother Sharika!
Tuu Char’dah Ratan’e Garaa’n; Tuu Nau’nidaan’e Be’kara’n;
Tuu Kaan’e Gow’her Dar A’maa’n--- Shree Shari’kaa Deevi Na’mah.
You’re the forty times precious jewel. You’re the matchless source of all superior knowledge. You’re the basic source of all the choicest technology and knowledge ----- I offer my salutations to thee, Mother Sharika!
Shak’ti Tu Kud’rat Shud Ayaa’n; Tahat’e Tu Bhakt’e Jaa’vidaan;
Tahat’e Tu Ursh’e Laa’makaan--- Shree Shari’kaa Dee’vi Na’mah.
It was only with your power that the whole nature came into existence. All the greatest of the great eternal devotees of the Lord are under you subjugation. The whole universal activities act under your orders ----- I offer my salutations to thee, Mother Sharika!
Naag’e Trilok’e Tir’th Jaa’t; Sarchashma’ye Aab’e Hayaat;
Aa’bash Baqa’yey Kayi’naat--- Shree Shari’kaa Dee’vi Na’mah.
Your spring, the Chakhrishur, is the choice of the choicest pilgrimage of your devotees. It’s the ultimate source of all life giving nectar (Amrita). The water of this spring is the preserver of all life in the whole universe ---- I offer my salutations to thee, Mother Sharika!
Khaak’e Dhar’at Kahal Ba’sar; Sang’e Samee’rat Khisht’e Zar;
Bar Haal’e Mis’keenam Ni’gar--- Shree Shari’kaa Dee’vi Na’mah.
The dust of your doorstep is the Surma (the black powder applied to the eyes for beauty) for the eyes of your devotees. The step stone at your door is made of pure gold. The wretched condition of this your devotee wishes your one single kind gaze ---- I offer my salutations to thee, Mother Sharika!
Nuur’e Jahan’e Sunda’rey; Taa’band’e Maher’e An’warey;
Mah’e Firo’zaa’n Akh’tari--- Shree Shari’kaa Dee’vi Na’mah.
The beauty of your face is the source of all universal light. Its shine is the eternal sun. It’s also the source of the super shine of the moon --- I offer my salutations to thee, Mother Sharika!
Chakhri’shura’t Haa’jat Ra’waa; Saaz’o Ga’daa Raa Paad’shah;
Wah’wah Ch’e Lakhsh’mi Thap’naa--- Shree Shari’kaa Dee’vi Na’mah.
The Chakrishwar tirtha is the fulfiller of all wishes of the devotees. It has the capacity to make a king out of a beggar. What a great seat of Maa Lakhshmi! --- I offer my salutations to thee, Mother Sharika!
Rogan Chirag’e Pam’puri; Sin’door Kha’say La’huri;
Cheh’rat Ku’nam Zar’do Zar’ey--- Shree Shari’kaa Dee’vi Na’mah.
I collected the best available ghee (clarified butter) of Pampore (which has the reputation of having the flavour of saffron as the cows there feed on the grass growing around the saffron fields) for your Ratten Dweepa. I got the Sindoor best of its kind from Lahore and after mixing it with the Pampore ghee painted your face in full golden yellow ------ I offer my salutations to thee, Mother Sharika!
Dar Bar’gaa’hat Roz’u Sh’ab; Narad Muneshwar Baa A’dab;
Dar’baan’e Dar’gaahat Talab--- Shree Shari’kaa Dee’vi Na’mah.
The omnipresent Lord Narad Munishwar is present there day and night with full devotion. He performs the duties of a gate-keeper most diligently at your sanctum sanctorum ---- I offer my salutations to thee, Mother Sharika!
Gul Aaz Sar’e Khud May Ku’nam; Brinj Aaz Dil-O-Jaan Aar’panam;
Puza’ye Tuu Khwa’ham Kunam--- Shree Shari’kaa Dee’vi Na’mah.
Instead of a flower I offer my own head to you. Instead of the grains of rice (Aragh) I offer my heart and soul for your worship. I want to perform your suitable worship ----- I offer my salutations to thee, Mother Sharika!
Ma’an Aari’zoyam Be Nawaa; Uf’tada’am Bay Dast-U-Paa;
Das’tam Bi’geer Aaz Tuu Dayaa--- Shree Shari’kaa Dee’’vi Na’mah.
I’ve become the embodiment of immense desire for your single glimpse (Dharshana). I’m deprived of all my limbs and have crippled with the desire. Now I wish you hold my hand out of pity on my condition and lift me up ----- I offer my salutations to thee, Mother Sharika!
Ma’an Aa’z Tu Naa’dey Chaa’kre Ma’an; Gya’naa Ja’paa Ma’alaye Ma’an;
Praan Aa’z Tu Pranaayam’e Ma’an--- Shree Shari’kaa Dee’vi Na’mah.
Your Naadi-Chakra is the force of my life. The repetition of your sacred name (Japa) is my rosary. The movement of my breath in your sacred devotion is my Pranayama ----- I offer my salutations to thee, Mother Sharika!
Shri Isht Deevi Shari’ka; Dass’e Tu Ah’qar Krishna Kaar;
Goyad To’taa Jo’yad A’tta--- Shree Shari’kaa Dee’’vi Na’mah.
I call upon you, my Isht Deevi Maa Shari’ka. It’s your servant, the lowest of the low--- Krishna Kaar. I’ve done your Astuti and wish your benevolence ----- I offer my salutations to thee, Mother Sharika!

SATSANGA, the celestial association

Satsanga is a celestial association of the devotees of the Lord with a purpose to delve deep into some subtle divine secret to gain more and more love of the Lord. It also includes the singing of devotional songs (Kirtana) either jointly or listening to them with extreme devotion and also the religious discourses conducted by certain learned religious scholars and preachers with a small or a large gathering. Satsanga is a valuable spiritual aid to bring the seeker closer to the supreme consciousness. It’s considered the easiest and the most effective way to reveal the supreme awakening of the soul within the seeker. This association demands heartfelt sincerity and deep devotion on the part of the participant. The more of devotion the simpler is the way to salvation and purity of soul which’s the ultimate purpose of all devotees and the motive for all activity towards the Lord. In Satsanga usually a good number of people assemble together, united in purpose such that their physical energies work in unison and there’s a collective flow of divine vibrations that has the capacity to inspire the truest love for the Lord leading to the highest divine achievements. As a prelude to all celestial activities the seeker needs to rise above the common demands of the physical existence, Lust, anger, greed, attachment and ego and their controlling mind and make a sincere effort to develop a flawless love for the Lord and once there’s some development in this direction there’s an automatic uplift of the soul and then Satsanga gives a great boost to the seeker.
For a common man busy in the mundane affairs physical afflictions are common. These are both natural and man made. Regular participation in Satsanga with deep devotion and love makes all these calamities at least easier to deal with and with consistent efforts there’s an end to all worldly troubles as there’s almost negligible feeling left about the pinch of these things for a seeker who has gone some distance in the path of divinity.
The real purpose of human life is to get liberated from the cycle of life and death and in order to attain this object one has to detach himself from the glamour of worldly activities and work for getting awakened to the secrets of life and the universe but the lure of worldly affairs is so captivating that life passes away like a dream and the main purpose of life is ignored by almost everyone and thus the process of reincarnation continues. Those who understand the truth of this life and work tirelessly for the achievement of its purpose are great eternal souls who’ve become one with the universal Lord and all the doors of awakening are open for them and nothing has remained unattained for them.
There’re two types of seekers in the path of divinity, those who shun all worldly affairs and remain absorbed with the Lord all the time away from the attention of the common man and those who opt to be apparently active with the worldly affairs---who run a family, bear children, work actively to earn a living but are mentally detached from the mundane world and work secretly for the achievement of the real purpose of life. These household saints do have a guide (Guru) or in certain cases do not require one as they’re already enough awakened to their main purpose of life. Satsanga or the celestial association is of great help to them as they themselves not only make a rapid advancement out of it but also carry along lots of people by developing in them the truest love of the Lord which helps them a long way towards a better awakening without any hurdles besides a comfortable worldly existence. The repetition of God’s name in its various forms in complete isolation with mind fixed at a certain point is a great vehicle for spiritual advancement but the same activity in unison within a group of devotees (Satsanga) gives a magical uplift of mind towards higher consciousness. The association of a pupil with his master (Guru) is the most revered activity in the celestial field and hence the choicest Satsanga. It involves the highest devotion of the taught for his teacher so much so that the master becomes the truest representative of God for the pupil making him capable to experience all the truths of divinity and helping him open all the doors of spiritual advancement. The modern social set-up and corporate living provides lots of tension and absence of peace. The common man deeply involved in the worldly affairs is largely benefited from occasional participation in Satsanga of varied type especially by providing him an instant peace of mind.

THE MURDER MOST FOUL

The gruesome murder of Rajneesh Sharma, a Jammu youth by Kashmir police inside Ram Munshi Bagh Police station in Srinagar is highly deplorable. The boy was taken into custody by the concerned police from his residence at Sarwal locality in Jammu on Sept 30 on a complaint of kidnapping of a Muslim girl Amina from Srinagar whom he had actually married legally and the wedding registered with an appropriate court of law. The body of Rajneesh bore obvious torture marks which incited a wide protest from the people of Jammu. The post-mortem reports also confirm the brutal torture though the final opinion of the experts is awaited.
Such brutal police excesses are not rare in this country but this particular case carries some deeper ramifications. The Muslims in the valley take such an incident of inter-religious marriage a severe affront especially when a Kashmiri Muslim girl chooses a Hindu boy as a life partner. In this case the boy was from Jammu and naturally the tempers ran too high. The worst part of the episode is how the Kashmir police authorities actively initiated action with the arrest of the boy from his residence and ended with his obnoxious murder inside the police station Ram Munshi Bagh. Obviously the action was taken with the active support of the highest civil as well as police authorities with the lone motive of a revenge from the Hindu boy’s adventure alliance with a Muslim girl from Kashmir. The incident clearly reverberates the environment that Kashmiri Pandits faced while in Kashmir in good olden days before 1990. How we had to be in complete subordination to the whims and foibles of the majority community even in the most ordinary activities in life is an example in itself not to speak of such an adventure activity. KPs had not only to bear insults from their Muslim neighbours patiently even during celebrations of some of their religious ceremonies but also become victims of their fury whenever India won a match or a Muslim trader was taken to task anywhere in India for any of his misadventures. There’s usually a mass celebration among Muslims whenever anyone of them enters into wedlock with a Hindu girl with mutual consent as the basic condition for the girl is to convert to Islam and perform marriage according to their custom but conversely the things usually turn explosive if the girl with a Hindu background opts to marry a Muslim boy. The event reflects clearly the biased attitude of the Kashmir administration toward Hindus in the State and how far the authorities can initiate any brutal action against them according to the sweet will of a Kashmir Muslim. The reader can easily imagine that the KPs were forced to leave Kashmir in early nineties especially to make the Kashmir administration clean of all the Hindu and Indian elements and make a smooth way for the Muslim administrators to act clean as suited to their vested interest otherwise in a mixed administration such brutal happenings were almost impossible. It’ll not be out of place to mention that a few partners in the said administration from Jammu have no say in any of the important policy making and their counterparts from Kashmir are bold enough to overpower them or ignore them easily to make a smooth way and take their biased decisions in all matters. It’s gradually becoming open to all Jammuites that the Kashmir administration is bent upon working for the interest of Kashmir Muslim only not for any the people of any other part of the State. The Kashmir Pandit, reputed worldwide for his administrative and academic capabilities is almost completely sidelined and ignored in J&K simply because he has always been a strict adherer of the national interest and is now content with working satisfactorily in the broader echelons of national and international forums.
All the saner elements at the national level generally and State level particularly are out and out to admonish the criminal act of the Kashmir Police and demand an independent enquiry and severe punishment for the perpetrators of the crime.

Gulmarg --- The Meadow of Flowers

Mughal Emperor Jahangir was greatly obsessed with Kashmir. The pleasure enjoying king is said to have journeyed Kashmir eight times along with his full entourage and created the gardens of Achabal, Shalimaar and Verinaag. In 1627 when he was nearing his death he was asked what he was thinking, he said, “Kashmir, only Kashmir!” The famous Persian couplet ‘gar firdos bar roy’e zamin ast; hamin ast’o hamin ast’o hamin ast’ was his exclamation while enjoying in Kashmir. Such are the emotions of everybody whosoever visits this Paradise on Earth.
Kashmir is famous for a number of world renowned tourist spots but to me Gulmarg crowns them all. Gulmarg is about fifty kilometers from Srinagar, a saucer shaped valley high up in the base of Affarvat Mountains. The actual mountain ridge starts from Tangmarg, a beautiful small town, another tourist attraction. Till recently the road from Tangmarg to Gulmarg was covered on foot or on ponies but the newly constructed motorable road has facilitated the movement of tourists and all. The steep but comfortable road on the ridge provides breathtaking view of the dense pine forest and the greenery around.
The resort really fit for a king was discovered and founded by Yusuf Shahi Chak, the lover of Kashmir legendry melody queen Habba Khatoon (Zoon) and named it as such. Gul-Marg is a Persian word meaning ‘the meadow of flowers’. Until almost end of February everything here is painted with snow – the streets, pine branches, the roofs and the mountain peaks around. In summer there’s always a nip in the air and the atmosphere is filled with the scent of pine and deodar. The vast green lawns are here and there dotted with tiny wild multicolored flowers and at places a full garden of hues spread deliciously by the divine artist. The natural setting of the resort is almost undisturbed by the human hands except the small market-place and some hotel buildings raised on the elevated margins of the valley. The Gulmarg Golf Club set up by the British in 1904, the Maharani Temple and the St. Mary’s Church is a sight to see. During British rule Gulmarg was far better active than today. It used to be a permanent home to various British retired bureaucrats, army officers and others with their families during summer who enjoyed life to their full in their tiny bungalow type huts spotted here and there without disturbing the aesthetic beauty of the meadow and as such all facilities were provided for them by the local administration. Lots of Kashmiris served them in different capacities and thus became a source for their living.
The world renowned Gulmarg Ski project provides sport to lots of fun loving people on the vast natural snow slopes in winter. It keeps the snow bound meadow full of activities in winter too though the inflow of the tourists had reduced to bare minimum during the recent years of militant threat and is picking up again.
Gandola Cable Car is an addition of modern technology to the place. It’s said to be Asia’s highest and longest Cable Car Project, the two stage ropeway which ferries to and from Kongdoori Mountain, a shoulder of the nearby Affarwat Peak (4200 m) and a beauty to see. Next in priority is Khilanmarg, a 600 metre ascent from Gulmarg, the site of famous winter Ski runs and which provides magnificent views of Nanga Parbat, Nun and Kun peaks from the top and tourists throng there on ponies to return before dusk. Then there’s the worth seeing Aalepather, a frozen lake about 13 kilometers trek from Gulmarg deep into the mighty slopes of Affarwat peak.
The tourists prefer to visit the shrine of Baba Reshi (Baba Payam-ud-Din Reshi) at a brief down trek from Gulmarg within dense forest area. The pir who died in 1480 was a courtier in the palace of King Zain-ul-Abidin. The holy man’s tomb is beautiful with latticed woodwork and the local people along with tourists throng there in all seasons to seek favours.

PAN DEUN --- Another important festival of KPs

PAN DUEN is another important festival of Kashmiri Pandits celebrated since time immemorial. The festival though different of its kind enjoys tremendous reverence and popularity in all KP families wherever they’re. It’s celebrated by making a special bread cake called ROTH in Kashmiri. The wheat floor in sufficient quantity is mixed with ghee, sugar, cardamom and poppy seeds and made into dough before thick Roties are rolled and deep-fried in ghee on low heat. The quantity of the material depends mainly on the tradition of the house and the strength of the family and its extension as the Prasad has to be shared with all relatives and friends after the Pooja concludes. The auspiciousness of the occasion demands enough preparation from vigorous cleaning of the whole house especially the kitchen place to a get together of all the members of family to give the process enough sanctity. The head lady of the house takes full charge of the occasion with the juniors working under her and the work is started early in the morning after doing all washing and collecting fresh water as everything has to be done with extreme purity of hand and heart as well. The recitations of holy mantras continue throughout the process as no gossips are allowed considering the sanctity of the occasion.
The Mahurat (auspicious occasion) for PAN DEUN are a few dates in the bright lunar fortnight of Bhadroon around Ganesh Chuturthi festival celebrated throughout India with full gaiety and devotion. In Kashmir the festival is celebrated by the name Vinayak Chorum and the most favoured Mahurat for PAN DEUN especially if it’s a Sunday lovingly called Vinayak Choram Te Aathwaar. This year interestingly Ganesh Chaturthi was on Sunday but Chorum (4th day of the lunor fortnight) was missing in the calendar. It was the 3rd lunar day so not favoured for PAN DEUN.
Now after the recipe (PAN ROTH) is ready there is a ceremonial ritual considered very auspicious. All the prepared PAN ROTH are kept in a large wicker basket and covered with a freshly washed clean cotton cloth. A big Lota (Gadvei) of brass, now stainless-steel is filled with fresh water and after decorating it with a flower garland, Naervan (moli), sindoor, etc it is covered with a big size ROTH and a couple or more small ones and some dry fruit, shelled walnuts and some sugar candy for Prasad and kept ceremoniously on the floor while all the family members surround it with folded hands facing East. The head lady ties Naerwan and puts Tikka on the forehead of all the members and takes in her hand the cotton thread which she had been keeping on her right ear during the making of PAN ROTH. The cotton thread is mainly significant in this ritual. In olden days the cotton thread was especially twisted for the purpose out of fresh cotton wool grown in Kashmir by an unmarried young girl on the family Charkha as Goddess Durga was worshipped in her maiden form on the occasion. The thread is called PAN in Kashmiri.
All the members take in their folded hands some washed grains of rice, barley and flowers along with a little of fresh washed running grass with roots (Dramun) which grows wildly everywhere on roadsides and parks and the head lady with all sanctity relates a traditional story of a woman of yester-years called Bib Dhara Maej who used to observe the ritual with all sanctity and was very prosperous enjoying all the blessings of the Lord. Unfortunately one such day while preparing PAN ROTH with all sanctity along with her unmarried young daughter, her husband, a rich man and too conceited came in the house unexpectedly and the fit of some anger spoiled the sanctity of the ritual and left the house. Within no time the worst misfortune overcame him and the whole family. He was deprived of all his riches, name and fame till the situation reached that the family were reduced to penury. The lady couldn’t forget the episode and in most deprived conditions arranged for the ritual the next year and surprisingly their misfortune was replaced by former riches and glory once again. As the story is ceremoniously related in full the head lady opens the lid of the Lota and offers the rice and barley grains with flowes in her hand to the Lord followed by all other mambers of the family. Thus is ritual ends with everyone wishing for good heath and prosperity and the Prasad is taken.
Now the PAN NAVEED as it’s called is to be shared with all relatives and friends and the main share is given to the married daughters and sisters in the family along with the Tikka and Naerwan from the Pooja within next few days. After the displacement of Pandits from Kashmir the new found non-Kashmiri relatives, friends and neighbours eagerly wait for the PAN NAVEED for its sanctity and high taste.

Kashmir celebrates Independence Day

There’s good news from Kashmir. Independence Day was celebrated yesterday with wide celebrations and full public participation after a long time. The main function was held in Bakshi Stadium, Srinagar where the young jubilant Chief Minister Omar Abdullah hoisted the national flag and took salute at the march past by various contingents drawn from security forces, NCC and schools of the city surprisingly without the bullet-proof cubicle which gives enough signals of the changed scenario in Kashmir. Besides the security forces and state administrative brass the celebration was attended by a large number of people mainly drawn from the ranks of National Conference and other political parties. Though the gathering was far too less compared to the Independence Day celebrations before militancy but still it displayed significant enthusiasm compared to recent years especially early nineties. And the most encouraging part of the news is that the National Flag was hoisted with due fervor and enthusiasm throughout the valley in all District Headquarters by the concerned District Heads or prominent political leaders.
The celebration of a national day with significant participation by the local people defying strong threats from the separatist elements once again is a healthy development and needs to be eulogized strongly. Once again after the massive public participation in state elections the people of Kashmir have rejected the tall claims of the separatist elements that they want India to pack up and leave them on their own.
The people of Kashmir have never been anti-India in their heart of hearts and the occasional anti-national outbursts that cause furore through the corridors of nationalist elements is nothing more than the result of the exploitations of those very forces that want the disintegration of this country. These forces are bent upon trying all possible means to create disturbance in this country by exploiting various soft targets in their favour and the Kashmir plan has always headed the list of their operations. JAI HIND