By | Dr AR Lone
Teetwal, Kupwara: The annual Sharda Divas was celebrated with great zeal and devotion at the historic Sharda Yatra Temple, LoC Teetwal, Karnah, reviving memories of the ancient Sharda Peeth pilgrimage that thrived before partition.
The celebrations began with a Shobha Yatra from the Sharda Temple to the Whiteline Bridge, symbolising the pre-partition pilgrimage route to Sharda Peeth in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The rally was led by Deputy Commissioner Kupwara, Shrikant Balasaheb Suse, followed by hundreds of devotees, Kashmiri Pandits, Sikhs, and local residents.
Welcoming the dignitaries, Ravinder Pandita, Chairman of the Save Sharda Committee Kashmir, highlighted the civil society initiatives taken to revive the Sharda civilization, promote Sharda Lipi, and restore Teetwal as a centre of interfaith harmony and heritage tourism. He particularly acknowledged the role of Ajaz Khan in rebuilding and managing both the Sharda Temple and the adjoining Gurudwara, which were beautifully illuminated for the occasion.
The event witnessed the presence of prominent personalities including Bollywood actress Preeti Sapru, Tej Sapru, S. Chandhok of the Delhi Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee, ADC Kupwara, SDM Karnah, Tehsildar Karnah, ACR Kupwara, AE Karnah, BDO Tangdar-Teetwal, along with senior officers of the Indian Army including Deputy Commander 104 Shakti Vijay Brigade and Commanding Officer 06 Mahar.
The dignitaries participated in the puja ceremony at the temple, marking the spiritual essence of the day. The celebrations also coincided with the 350th Martyrdom Year of Guru Teg Bahadur Ji, with a large number of Sikhs joining the religious procession, further strengthening the message of unity in diversity.
In his keynote, Ravinder Pandita reiterated his appeal to the Government of India to establish a permanent corridor across the LoC, enabling devotees from both sides to participate in annual religious functions and thereby reviving the age-old pilgrimage to Sharda Peeth.
The day concluded with chants of devotion, community participation, and renewed hope for the restoration of this centuries-old spiritual, cultural, and interfaith heritage at Teetwal.
