Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Sept 29: A delegation of Save Sharda Committee, Kashmir called on Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister in PMO in New Delhi and briefed him about the recent Sharda Puja held on White Line bridge at LoC Teetwal, Kashmir. The delegation of Yatris was led by Ravinder Pandita, head of the Committee, who presented a collection of photographs of yatra to the Minister.
Sharda Puja was performed on the banks of Kishenganga river right on LoC at Teetwal in Kupwara district on Sharda Ashtami (September 14) this year.
The Committee stressed the need for reopening of Sharda pilgrimage and reviving the old traditional route via Teetwal that was once upon a time led by Lala Mela Ram with Charri Mubarak.
A group of 20 pilgrims including a few locals took part in the annual Puja that used to be held at Sharda Peeth (now in PoK) prior to partition this day. Every year the Committee organizes a programme on this day that marks the ancient annual yatra day to famous Sharda Peeth, the delegation informed the Minister. Swami Nand Lal Koul, a Kashmiri saint was the last to sit on the Peeth, that holds a high place for Hindu faith.
Notable feature of the event this year was live interaction with people those who had come on the other side of the river Kishenganga to greet members of Save Sharda Committee. “ We have a civil society across LoC comprising nearly 150 members who are working in tandem with us from here. They laid flowers on the Peeth in November 2016 and installed photo frame of Goddess Sharda inside Peeth in March’2017. We have also received a Supreme Court judgement on preservation of Sharda Peeth in 2018 and also an order for maintaining sanctity of the Peeth from DG Archaeology & Tourism in PoK Government.” said Ravinder Pandita,.
The head of the Committee thanked the Indian Army for allowing such a yatra that allows the pilgrims of a faith to perform the rituals. It is notable that last year the Committee had organized a similar Puja on the banks of river Kishenganga at LoC Keran, which was done for the first time in last 71 years.
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