Historic Moment: Sharda Bhavani Temple Reopens in Budgam After 30 Years, Kashmiri Pandits Reunite with Support from Muslim Community

Historic Moment: Sharda Bhavani temple in Budgam, Kashmir, reopened after 30 years as Kashmiri Pandits returned to their ancestral roots. Local Muslim community actively supported the ceremony, showcasing Kashmir’s spirit of communal harmony.

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Sharda Bhavani Temple

In a historic and emotional development, the Sharda Bhavani temple in Budgam, Kashmir, has reopened after more than three decades, bringing joy and hope to the Kashmiri Pandit community. The reopening took place on Sunday in Ichkoot village of Central Kashmir, with enthusiastic participation from the local Muslim community, symbolizing the valley’s age-old spirit of unity and brotherhood.

The ceremony began with Pran Pratishtha rituals, marking the temple’s revival after 30 long years. Many Kashmiri Pandit families, who were forced to leave their ancestral homes during the insurgency in the 1990s, returned for the first time to witness this historic occasion.

Sunil Kumar Bhat, president of the Sharda Sthapana community in Budgam, highlighted the significance of the temple, describing it as a branch of the Sharda Mata temple in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). He expressed gratitude, saying, “This reopening was possible only with the support of local Muslims, who continuously encouraged us to restore the temple.”

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Muslim community support: Historic Moment

The ceremony reflected the valley’s syncretic culture, where both communities came together in celebration. An elderly Muslim resident shared, “Before the turmoil, we lived and ate together. Kashmiri Pandits are part of this soil, and we welcome them wholeheartedly.”

The reopening not only marks a spiritual milestone but also represents a message of communal harmony in Kashmir, with hopes that more Pandit families will return to their homeland.