SRINAGAR, Nov 3: It is a special Diwali for 50 year old Anita. After 22 years she is celebrating Diwali in Kashmir. Though there is not much to celebrate with most of her family members living outside Kashmir, she has a special feeling of being at home.
Dressed in colorful red and green suit, Anita is happy and sad at the same time.
“I wish all our pandits brothers could be here together to celebrate this festival in their own motherland, with same old love and harmony,” Anita said.
After the commencement of insurgency, Anita moved to Delhi along with her husband and two children. This year she visited Kashmir after 23 years.
“My daughter got admission for PG in medicine here. So I had to come with her. I am unable to recognize the places here. Everything has changed.”
Though Anita’s husband, a doctor by profession, kept coming to Kashmir all these years, rest of the family could not.
“I am overwhelmed to be here on Diwali. My children are celebrating Diwali here for the first time,” said Anita.
Anita’s Diwali celebration was marked by visiting temples and some family friends. Anita recalls a lot of Diwali celebrations in Kashmir during her childhood.
Meanwhile, the Hindu community across Kashmir celebrated Diwali with enthusiasm. People from Muslim and Sikh community joined pandits in their celebrations. Pandits could be seen paying obeisance to temples and visiting relatives and friends.
The stalls of crackers and sweets were put out on streets. Children were busy bursting crackers on roads and parks, often joined by children from Muslim community.
People from Hindu community also distributed sweets amongst Muslims.
“It is a festival of peace and harmony. We are sharing our joy with them,” said Sonu, who runs a jewellery shop.
On the occasion of Diwali, he distributed sweets amongst his customers. Gifts were distributed amongst people of different communities on Diwali. Some shops had offered Diwali offers to attract customers.
The evening was lit by colorful candles and diyas. The areas of Tulsi bagh, Jawahar Nagar, Abi Guzar saw most celebrations.
Courtesy: kashmirtimes dot com
Dressed in colorful red and green suit, Anita is happy and sad at the same time.
“I wish all our pandits brothers could be here together to celebrate this festival in their own motherland, with same old love and harmony,” Anita said.
After the commencement of insurgency, Anita moved to Delhi along with her husband and two children. This year she visited Kashmir after 23 years.
“My daughter got admission for PG in medicine here. So I had to come with her. I am unable to recognize the places here. Everything has changed.”
Though Anita’s husband, a doctor by profession, kept coming to Kashmir all these years, rest of the family could not.
“I am overwhelmed to be here on Diwali. My children are celebrating Diwali here for the first time,” said Anita.
Anita’s Diwali celebration was marked by visiting temples and some family friends. Anita recalls a lot of Diwali celebrations in Kashmir during her childhood.
Meanwhile, the Hindu community across Kashmir celebrated Diwali with enthusiasm. People from Muslim and Sikh community joined pandits in their celebrations. Pandits could be seen paying obeisance to temples and visiting relatives and friends.
The stalls of crackers and sweets were put out on streets. Children were busy bursting crackers on roads and parks, often joined by children from Muslim community.
People from Hindu community also distributed sweets amongst Muslims.
“It is a festival of peace and harmony. We are sharing our joy with them,” said Sonu, who runs a jewellery shop.
On the occasion of Diwali, he distributed sweets amongst his customers. Gifts were distributed amongst people of different communities on Diwali. Some shops had offered Diwali offers to attract customers.
The evening was lit by colorful candles and diyas. The areas of Tulsi bagh, Jawahar Nagar, Abi Guzar saw most celebrations.
Courtesy: kashmirtimes dot com
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