Diwali celebrated at Sharda Devi Temple in Jammu and Kashmir, first time since independence

In a remarkable achievement, Diwali was celebrated at the Maa Sharda Devi Temple in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district on November 12, for the first time since India’s independence. 

Diwali puja was held at the Sharda Mandir, informed the organisers of the event- Save Sharda Committee. Ravinder Pandita, Head and founder of the Save Sharda Committee expressed happiness that for the first time the community could observe Diwali festivities at Maa Sharda Temple. After performing the Diwali rituals, the people gathered outside the temple and burst firecrackers.

"It's a matter of happiness that Diwali is being celebrated in the same way as it used to be before 75 years. The inauguration of this temple was done on March 22 after its renovation," said Pandita. Further, Pandita appealed to the central government to open the Sharda Peeth for devotees like the Kartarpur Sahib. 

Sharda Mandir reopened through government’s efforts 

The Sharda mandir is situated in the country’s last village towards the border in Teetwal, which acted as a traditional route of pilgrimage to Sharda Peeth, which was stopped in 1948. The temple was destroyed in the raids of 1947, and was reconstructed in the same architectural style and on the same sacred land, as it existed in the pre-partition days. 

The ancient temple was re-opened after restoration on March 23 this year on the occasion of Naveri- the Kashmiri new year and later the abhishek and pran-pratistha of the idol of Goddess Sharda was performed in in June. After which Navratri puja was observed in the temple in October. Apart from the government's efforts, the Save Sharda Committee took the lead in construction of the mandir. 

Focus back on Sharda Peeth 

Goddess Sharda, commonly known as Saraswati, has been a part of daily worship of Kashmiri pandits and Sharda Temple is one of the three principle shrines in the border religion. The other two are Martand Sun Temple and Amarnath Temple. Saraswati is referred as kuldevi (principal deity) by the Kashmiri pandits as the community believes that Goddess Saraswatio had the container of knowledge during the fight between good and evil. Sharda Peeth is located in the valley of Mount Harmukh in PoK at an altitude of 1,981 metres above sea level. 

(With agency inputs)