Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Feb 25: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference general secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar today termed the Heraath festival as a hallmark of syncretic culture of Kashmir and impressed upon the administration to ensure all basic amenities to the Kashmiri Pandit (KP) community on the festive occasion.
Heerath, Sagar said, is a part and parcel of Kashmir’s pluralistic culture. He said the day has been celebrated since time immemorial with utmost fervour and devotion. Regardless of the conflict situation in the region, the Heerath festival has been celebrated with the spirit of traditional brotherhood.
Being the most important festival of our Kashmir Pandit brethren, Sagar said it was imperative on the Government to ensure that the community is able to celebrate it in an hassle free manner.
“Walnuts, Fish and Nadru are central to the festivity, Therefore, the divisional administration of Jammu and Kashmir divisions should establish fair price shops for the purchase of fish and walnuts across J&K,” he said.
“Mobile fish and walnut vans and stalls should be thickly installed across J&K. The required condiments should be sold at much subsidised rates,” he said adding, the administration should also ensure adequate supply of water and electricity at all major shrines and temples across J&K so that the visiting devotees don’t face any problems.
He has also implored upon the divisional administration to ensure proper sanitation, and round the clock public utility services at Zethyar, Mata Khir Bhawani, Tikkar, Mata Sharika Devi, Ganpatyar temples.
Meanwhile, party provincial presidents Nasir Aslam Wani and Rattan Lal Gupta have also urged the administration to provide all essentials to the Pandit community on Shivratri festival.
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