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The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - JAMMU TRIBUNE
Srinagar, November 12 2012
Mandir Colony, a small residential locality in Srinagars Lal Chowk, has been witness to numerous cases of violence in the past two decades since the militancy erupted in the Valley.
But around Divali every year, some 30-odd Hindu families forgetting all bitterness of the past indulge in celebrations with their Muslim neighbours.
Though Divali is celebrated on a much larger scale elsewhere in the country, the residents of Mandir Colony leave no stone unturned marking the spirit of the festival. They say the thought of leaving their hometown to celebrate the festival of lights never occurred to them.
Even though Hindus are a minority in Kashmir, this never was a reason for celebration getting dampened. The festive spirit multiplies when many Muslims from their neighbourhood participate in their celebrations.
Here, Muslims and Hindus celebrate Divali in a similar spirit. At times when the Valley was under the shadows of violence and when shopping centres used to be closed for most part of the year, Muslims would help us purchasing and also participating in the celebrations, says Renu Sharma, an elderly woman.
Ritu recalls the times when she first came to the Valley along with her grand parents and chose to stay put here and never went back to her hometown in Ambala.
Home is where heart is and our home is Kashmir. We dont feel that we celebrate the festival in any lesser spirit than any of my relatives who live outside the state, says Ritu.
These Hindu families in Mandir colony remain busy for ensuing couple of days with Divali puja, exchange of sweets and gifts with neighbours and tool worship the day after Divali.
Bursting of cracker at night was unheard of in Kashmir till a few years back when militancy was at its peak.
Forget about bursting crackers in night. People were scared of stepping out of their homes in the dark. But now things are changing and Divali celebrations are also taking place, says Imtiyaz Ahmad, a resident of Mandir Colony.
Srinagar, November 12 2012
Mandir Colony, a small residential locality in Srinagars Lal Chowk, has been witness to numerous cases of violence in the past two decades since the militancy erupted in the Valley.
But around Divali every year, some 30-odd Hindu families forgetting all bitterness of the past indulge in celebrations with their Muslim neighbours.
Though Divali is celebrated on a much larger scale elsewhere in the country, the residents of Mandir Colony leave no stone unturned marking the spirit of the festival. They say the thought of leaving their hometown to celebrate the festival of lights never occurred to them.
Even though Hindus are a minority in Kashmir, this never was a reason for celebration getting dampened. The festive spirit multiplies when many Muslims from their neighbourhood participate in their celebrations.
Here, Muslims and Hindus celebrate Divali in a similar spirit. At times when the Valley was under the shadows of violence and when shopping centres used to be closed for most part of the year, Muslims would help us purchasing and also participating in the celebrations, says Renu Sharma, an elderly woman.
Ritu recalls the times when she first came to the Valley along with her grand parents and chose to stay put here and never went back to her hometown in Ambala.
Home is where heart is and our home is Kashmir. We dont feel that we celebrate the festival in any lesser spirit than any of my relatives who live outside the state, says Ritu.
These Hindu families in Mandir colony remain busy for ensuing couple of days with Divali puja, exchange of sweets and gifts with neighbours and tool worship the day after Divali.
Bursting of cracker at night was unheard of in Kashmir till a few years back when militancy was at its peak.
Forget about bursting crackers in night. People were scared of stepping out of their homes in the dark. But now things are changing and Divali celebrations are also taking place, says Imtiyaz Ahmad, a resident of Mandir Colony.
