As the Hindu festival of Ram Navami approaches, the picturesque city of Srinagar is abuzz with excitement and preparations for a grand “Shobha Yatra.” This religious procession, set to take place tomorrow, will traverse from the historic Habba Kadal area to the iconic Lal Chowk, all under stringent security measures to ensure the safety of participants.
In the lead-up to this auspicious occasion, festivities have already commenced in various temples across the Srinagar City, particularly at the revered Durga Temple in Srinagar, where celebrations have been ongoing since midnight. A havan (fire ritual) has been organized to invoke peace and prosperity, attracting nearly double the number of devotees compared to previous years, a testament to the changing sentiments among the community.
The Shobha Yatra will commence from the 300-year-old Kathleshwar Mahadev Temple in Habba Kadal, an area that once thrived with the presence of the Kashmiri Pandit community before the onset of militancy. The temple has been beautifully adorned with lights, and all preparations for the procession are in full swing.
The procession will weave through several key locations, including Jain Dar Mohalla, Barbar Shah, Regal Chowk, and the Lal Chowk clock tower, before concluding back at the Kathleshwar Temple. Local authorities have deployed personnel from the Jammu and Kashmir Police and CRPF to ensure strict security arrangements along the route, with a dedicated police team accompanying the devotees throughout their journey.
In a heartening display of communal harmony, members of the majority community in Srinagar have come together to decorate floats for the procession. Many local Muslims have expressed their support for the Kashmiri Pandit community’s right to celebrate their faith openly. “Our religion teaches us to respect others’ beliefs,” said a local resident. “We believe that things are changing for the better; one day, Kashmir will return to its harmonious past.”
Previously, such processions faced interruptions due to unrest in the valley; however, this year’s event has received official approval, marking a significant step towards fostering communal unity and celebrating cultural diversity in Kashmir.
