On Herath, Kashmiri Pandits pray for peace

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, February 24

‘Herath’ (Mahashivratri) is being celebrated with religious fervour by Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley.

The Pandits will offer nightlong prayers tonight and observe ‘salam’ tomorrow as part of Herath celebrations in Kashmir.

“This night of Mahashivratri is very pious and therefore we offer prayers all night long at our homes. The marriage of Lord Shiva and Parvati had taken place on this night. As part of our traditions, we visit friends and relatives the next day for ‘salam’ to extend Herath greetings,” said Chunni Lal Bhat, president of the Hindu Welfare Society Kashmir, a body of non-migrant Pandits.

“We will pray for peace with the hope that the good old days return to the Kashmir valley soon when Pandits and Muslims shared strong bonds of brotherhood,” he added.

Pandits pray to Lord Shiva and Parvati with offerings of walnuts that are placed in a watuk (earthen pot). Walnuts are later distributed among friends and relatives as ‘prasad’.

Bhat said besides offering prayers, they cook several vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes on the festive occasion. “On Herath, we make special fish and lotus-stem preparations. While vegetarian dishes such as ‘paneer’ and ‘dum aloo’ are also cooked, we prepare a whole lot of non-vegetarian delicacies like ‘rogan josh’ and ‘yakhni’,” he said.

Even as the hustle and bustle that was usually seen during Shivratri celebrations before the eruption of militancy more than 27 years back may not be there anymore, the non-migrant Kashmiri Pandits have nevertheless been striving to keep their age-old traditions alive.

Around 600 non-migrant Pandit families are residing across the Valley.