The Arde Nareshwar Temple in Nadimarg village witnessed a resurgence of faith and community as the Kashmiri Hindu community held a special prayer ceremony on October 5, marking the installation of a new murti after a long wait of 21 years.
This occasion was not only a religious event but also a significant step towards healing the scars of the past, as attendees expressed their hopes for a return to the peaceful coexistence that once defined this region.
The temple, which has undergone reconstruction after standing in ruins for three decades, hosted its first puja since the tragic Nadimarg massacre, where 24 Kashmiri Hindus lost their lives to an attack by unknown gunmen. The 2003 incident left an indelible mark on the village, plunging it into mourning and compelling the remaining Pandit families to flee. The air was thick with nostalgia as the community gathered, their collective memory echoing the loss and longing for the harmonious days of yore.
After 20 years, the Arde Nareshwar Temple in Nadimarg, #Shopian, Jammu & Kashmir reopened its doors to devotees!
A Pran Pratishtha ceremony was performed today, revitalising the temple’s spiritual significance
This milestone follows the tragic Nadimarg massacre, where 24… pic.twitter.com/vuYB6zpvUa
— Organiser Weekly (@eOrganiser) October 5, 2024
Despite the forced exodus, many locals maintained their relationships with their neighbours. This enduring connection played a pivotal role in restoring the temple’s significance as a spiritual and cultural symbol for the village.
The ceremony brought together individuals who had not seen each other for decades, stirring memories of a time when community life thrived. “Meeting my old Kashmiri friends after 34 long years has brought tears to my eyes. The memories of our past have come flooding back,” another resident recounted, encapsulating the bittersweet nature of the gathering as quoted by ETV Bharat.
Bhushan Lal Butt, a Kashmiri Hindu, expressed a heartfelt yearning for the return of his community, urging the government to create a supportive environment for their homecoming. “Nadimarg’s soil awaits the return of its long-lost residents, hoping they will once again make the village their home, reigniting the bonds of friendship and shared history,” he stated, his words resonating with the collective hope of the gathering.
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