KO Photo: Abid Bhat
Srinagar: Kashmiri Pandits on Thursday celebrated Maha Shivratri, locally known as Herath, with great fervour amid incessant rains that added colour to the festival.
Amid Covid-19 SoPs and guidelines a special prayer were organised at Shankaracharya Temple overlooking Dal Lake in Srinagar.
On the occasion the Shankaracharya Temple was illuminated with lights and decorated with flowers. The festival holds an important place among the Pandits, who celebrate it to mark the wedding of Lord Shiva with Parvati by cooking traditional Kashmiri food, especially fish. Rainfall or snow on this day is considered to be a good omen.
On this festival, the Pandits distribute soaked walnuts as a mark of respect to the Hindu deities.
Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha on the festive occasion said, this festival symbolizes value of devotion and harmony, while extending his greetings on his Twitter Handle he wrote, “My greetings to all on the auspicious occasion of Mahashivratri. This festival symbolizes values of devotion & harmony, the hallmark of glorious tradition & cultural ethos of J&K. I pray for sustained peace and development in J&K and well-being of its people.”
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir P. K. Pole while talking to KNO extended his best wishes to the Pandit Community and prayed for peace and brotherhood on this pious occasion.
“I also extend my greetings and wishes on Shabe-E Mehraj to Muslim Community in which night long prayers are held, on the occasion of Maha Shivratri and Shabe-E-Mehraj I once again extend my greetings to both the communities and pray for peace, brotherhood, development in the valley”, he said.
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