SRINAGAR, INDIA, August 26, 2005: It is after 17 long years that the jhanki (flag), welcoming the birth of Lord Krishna, the Hindu God, is back on the streets of downtown Srinagar. Till now, the 20,000 plus Kashmiri pandits who had stayed back in the city, would celebrate the festival inside temples. But what’s really special is that this year, hundreds of Muslims joined in the festivities and the jhanki travelled freely all over, even in those areas which were once militant strongholds. “Hindus and Muslims were in the procession, and I was surprised to see even a Sikh. This gives us hope that despite passing through difficult times Kashmiriyat, humanity and Sufism is still alive here,” said Raman Matoo, Kashmiri Pandit leader. It was a positive message to hundreds of Kashmiri pandits living in migrant camps, wanting to return to their homes. “I participated in the celebrations along with other Muslims. I frequently pray to God for brotherhood. I wish those old days which were here 20 years before, could return,” said Muhammad Ishaq, a Muslim resident. Seventeen years of bloody violence has caused lot of mistrust between the two communities, but today’s celebrations show that bonds of Kashmiris are strong and deep rooted.
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