Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 29: The Kashmiri Pandits’ demand of throwing world famous Sharda Shrine situated on the confluence of river Madhumati and Kishan Ganga in village Shardi in Tehsil Athmuqam , district Muzafarabad in Pak occupied Kashmir (PoK) to pilgrimage got a further boost with Minister of State for Education, Tourism, Culture and Horticulture, Priya Sethi also joining the chorus.
The Minister who was the chief guest during the celebration of Sharda Ashtami at Sanjeevani Sharda Kendra which also coincides with the Foundation day of Kendra said it is now high time that the Government of India and Pakistan should sit together to sort out the issue so that the dream of Hindus of J&K to have the pilgrimage of this historic shrine comes true.
Priya, who fully endorsed the demand said the Hindu pilgrims from the State be allowed to have the yatra of the holy shrine on the same pattern as the Hindu pilgrims from Pakistan visit the holy Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine. She added that every effort will be made for facilitating pilgrimage to Maa Sharda shrine which is the presiding deity of Kashmir.
She also stressed on protection of Hindu religious shrines in Kashmir which are the cultural monuments and a link to our past. She assured all support from his Ministry in this regard and said that society and Government together can protect the past legacy whose preservation is a must for posterity also.
Welcome address was delivered by H. N. Pandita, senior trustee of the Kendra. He asked the political leadership to take up the matter of the renovation of the Sharda Temple with the Pakistani Government and allow Hindu pilgrims to visit the shrine and also appraised about the fact that despite having rich historic background, the temple is not enlisted as UNESCO’s world heritage site.
Prof P N Trisal, Swami Kumar Ji and MLC Ajay Bharti were among others on the dais.
In the programme Kashmiri Medical Emergency and Charitable Trust (KMECT) was bestowed with the prestigious ‘Sharda Award’ for the continued service of the displaced Kashmiri Hindu society. The award was received by Sunil K. Thusu Vice Chairman, KMECT along with other trustees.
A book titled “Shiva-Sutra” (Divine Vision of Acharya Vasugupta) edited by Dr. C. L. Raina was also released on the occasion by the publication wing of the Kendra. Dr. M. K. Bharat reviewed the contents of the book to the audience.
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