Goddes Parvati helps reunion of Muslims-Migrant Pandits in Kashmir

Srinagar, Sept 25 (UNI) It was yet another emotional reunion between the Kashmiri Pandit migrants with their Muslim brethren after a gap of 18 years in south Kashmir.

''Goddess Parvati provided us the chance to visit this place once again in our lifetime to meet our Muslims brothers,'' said the Pandits who had come from different parts of the country on the occasion of birthday celebration of Vitasta at Verinag, the place where river Jhelum originates in south Kashmir.

The river water enters Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) near Uri in north Kashmir.

The warm welcome by Muslims to Pandits migrants who visited different temples in the valley during the past six months encouraged us to come here, said Chuni Lal, still remembering the names of Muslim village elders.

''We do not know what happened in the 1990s when we left the our birth-places without thinking about future,'' he said, adding they had everything in the places where they live at present but without peace of mind.

''We miss the shadow of Chinar trees as well as our Muslim neighbours,'' he said.

Official sources said more than 150 Kashmiri Pandits from different parts of the country, besides those who have not migrated and Muslims gathered at ancient Veth-Vathur to perform the punja.

A Maha Yagya was organised during which special prayers were offered for peace in the valley.

For many it was a dream come true to visit the valley once again, meet their Muslim brethren and walk freely without any fear of attack.

Blaming Pandit and Muslim leaders, the Pandits said politics has forced them to migrate. ''Majority of us are eager to return back to our birth places,'' they added.

''We believe that Mata Parvati after her marriage to Shiva came in the form of a water sprout at Verinag which is one km from Veth- Vitru springs, the source of Jehlum river,'' they said.

They said they did not face any problem to visit the Kashmir as Muslim and Pandits still believe that they are ''incomplete without each other.

''We are looking forward to visit other ancient temples in the valley and encourge others to undertake the holy journey,'' they said and were all praise for their Muslim brethren who helped them to organise the trip.

UNI