Srinagar: On the auspicious occasion of Navreh, the Kashmiri Pandit New Year, Mehbooba Mufti extends her heartfelt greetings to the Kashmiri Pandit community. She wishes them joy, prosperity, and peace on this significant day, which marks cultural renewal and spiritual awakening. Observed as per the lunar calendar, Navreh holds immense significance in Kashmiri traditions and symbolizes hope, rejuvenation, and continuity.
Mufti reflects on the deep historical ties between Kashmiri Pandits and Kashmiri Muslims, emphasizing how their coexistence was strengthened through shared celebrations. For centuries, both communities have participated in each other’s festivals, fostering a spirit of mutual respect and camaraderie. During Navreh, Kashmiri Muslims would extend greetings and sometimes join in the celebrations, while Kashmiri Pandits reciprocated by participating in Eid festivities, exchanging greetings, and sharing festive meals.
She highlights how this tradition of togetherness is deeply embedded in Kashmir’s collective memory. It is reflected in the small but significant gestures of solidarity like Muslim shopkeepers selling puja items during Kashmiri Pandit festivals and offering assistance during celebrations at revered sites such as the Kheer Bhawani temple during Zyeshth Ashtami. These traditions, she asserts, are a testament to the inclusive spirit of Kashmiriyat, the cultural ethos that binds the people of the valley.
Recognizing the painful history of the Kashmiri Pandit community, Mufti acknowledges the trauma and hardships they have endured due to their displacement over the past decades. She expresses deep sympathy for their struggles and acknowledges the sense of loss that both communities have experienced. She emphasizes that Kashmir is incomplete without its Kashmiri Pandits, as their absence has left a void in the valley’s social and cultural fabric. She reaffirms that Kashmir was, and always will be, their home.
In a heartfelt appeal, Mufti invites Kashmiri Pandits to return to their homeland, reassuring them that Kashmir remains theirs as much as anyone else’s. She underscores that their cultural and spiritual heritage is an integral part of Kashmir’s identity. She appealed the government’s at centre and in J&K for renewed efforts to create a safe and inclusive environment for the return of kashmiri Pandits.
Mufti expresses her belief in the power of dialogue, understanding, and shared history to bridge divisions. She calls upon all Kashmiris Pandits and Muslims alike to revive their traditions of interfaith solidarity and collective celebration. She hopes that Navreh will serve as a time of new beginnings, reaffirming a collective commitment to unity, peace that has defined generations.
