It is Aashad Chaturdshi today. We, Kashmiri Pandits used to celebrate this day as the birthday of Jwalla Bhagwati. A village called Khruve nearly 20 km or more from Srinagar city & almost five km from the National Highway, is famous for the abode of Jawalla Mata. There is a beautiful...
It is Ashadh Saptmi today. The three days of Ashadh/ Haarh Saptmi, Haarh Ashtami & Haarh Novimi have great significance in Kashmiri culture, as far as the Kashmiri Pandit community is concerned. Saptmi (Haar satam) is dedicated to the Sun God, Baskra/ Ravi. On this day, KPs would draw a boundary...
People, who are proud of their country, their state, their region & their community, can never be annihilated or defeated by their adversaries, even in adverse circumstances or during adverse times. Such people remain steadfast in their mission & they surely do come out of the whirlpool with flying colours. The Jewish...
The customs, ideas, beliefs, art, literature, architecture, music, etc. of a particular society/nation, collectively define its culture. This definition as much holds for Kashmiri Pandit Community as for any other community in the world; except for those for whom their religion decides every dimension of their life. While art,...
Our community is called Batta and Pandits, which mean respectively honoured and learned. Honoured and learned indeed we are and we are the original inhabitants of Kashmir dating back to the time when Kashyapa Rishi set up this pious place after draining the waters of Sati Sar. If there is...
Gan-Chodha is celebrated on Vaisakh Mass Shuklapaksh Chaturdashmiyam every year with great fervor and enthusiasm among all Kashmiri Pandits. This festival is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Ganesha. People in large numbers used to celebrate it in the ancient and famous Ganesh temple of Mollah Ganpatyar, Habbakadal. The pet...
The New Moon day is referred to as Amavasya or Amavas (in Kashmiri) or Amavasai (in Tamil) in the Hindu calendar. The one that falls on a Monday is of great significance and is called Somvati Amavasya or Sumri Amavas in Kashmiri. This year, it holds special significance because Shani...
Me and My Uncle: A personal Memory. I remember my elder Uncle, today, who blesses us from the heavens always. Whatever, I know of Shivratri came from his wise learnings and teachings to us. He told me that Herath is not a myth but a method. He could explain complex...
The Kashmiri Pandits have a rich legacy of local rituals, including Kaw Punim, an indigenous festival celebrated by them. It falls on Magh Shuklapaksh Purnamashi and marks the birthday of King Kak Bushandi of the Crows. According to ancient belief, Kak Bushandi had his place on a mountain in South...