Special hawan in Srinagar for early return of peace

Srinagar, May 18 (UNI) A special hawan was today organised in the historic Shri Ganesh Mandir in the old city where more than 2000 Kashmiri pandits participated in the ''Puran Ahuti'' and prayed for an early return of peace in the Kashmir valley.

This was for the first time since 1990 such a large number of pandits, who had come from different far flung and other parts valley participated in the hawan. However, a number of migrant pandits also participated in the puja, a spokesman for the Shri Ganesh Mandir Parbandhak Samiti told UNI.

He said the hawan, which started yesterday, was organised in connection with the birth anniversary of Lord Ganesh at Shri Ganesh Mandir, Gantpatyar, Habbakdal in the old city, once dominated by pandits.

He said the prayers in the mandir on the bank of river Jehlum, continued throughout the night.

Spokesman said puja and hawan never stopped in the mandir despite turmoil in the valley.

The number of the devotees participating in the hawan was less in the past, he said adding this was the first time such a large number of pandits took part in the hawan and Puran Ahuti.

He said special prayers were held for return of peace in the valley.

However, he praised the Muslim who always supported the Kashmiri pandits in holding puja. Muslims and Pandits cannot live without each other, he said.

The spokesman appealed to Kashmiri pandits living in different parts of the country to return to their roots.

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