Source

SRINAGAR, JAMMU AND KASHMIR STATE, INDIA, April 10, 2005: Chief minister Mufti Sayeed on Saturday announced that the government is planning to sponsor a delegation of Kashmiri Pandits (KP) who have desired to visit their holiest temple at Sharda in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). “We will be doing it at the earliest,” he told KPs at Zeshta Devi temple on the Zabarwan slopes where they were busy celebrating the Novreh, the first day of their new year. KPs have recently sought permission to pray at the Sharda temple, a widely acclaimed seat of learning during Kashmir’s Hindu period, now in PoK. Some of the top Hindu spiritualists and priests have studied in this university. The shrine of great religious and historic significance finds its mention in Kalhan’s Raj Tarangni, one of the oldest testaments of Kashmir’s over two thousand years of recorded history. Located around 150 kilometers in the Kishanganga (Neelam) valley on the banks of Jhelum river, the PoK administration has recently started renovation and repairs of the historic temple and has granted ten lakh rupees. There were clear indications that the administration would welcome the pilgrim tourists if they choose the Jhelum valley road, opened by the two sides on April 7. KPs, who were watching the dance of Muslim singers in the temple on the new year day said the announcement by the chief minister was very significant.

Post Views: 627