After a time period of 31 years, a special puja was done at Shital Nath Temple on the occasion of Basant Panchami in Srinagar on Tuesday. The puja was mainly performed by migrant Kashmiri pandits who assembled at Shital Nath Temple at Kral Khud locality in old part of Srinagar town.
Upandra Handu, Trustee of temple, said that it was the first time when Kashmiri pandits performed the puja on the occasion of Basant Panchami after they migrated from the valley in early 90s. He said that this is the only temple in Srinagar where puja is held every year on the occasion of Basant Panchami.
He said that this temple is very special for the community. They have been demanding government for its restoration since 2010, but government hasn’t paid any attention to their demands. They have twice asked for help from the Deputy Commissioner‘s office in Srinagar in 2010 and 2018 but the administration didn’t budge.
He informed that comparatively, a less number of migrant Kashmiri Pandits were able to attend the puja because of the coronavirus pandemic and chilly weather conditions in the valley. He said that they are also planning to organize another havan in the temple in the summer season and a good number of people are expected to attend it.
Back in 2010, a similar havan was organized by Kashmiri Pandit Sangarash Samiti, an organisation of non-migrant Pandits. This havan was held in the temple which was reopened after remaining closed for over two decades.
