Srinagar, February 25: Kashmiri Pandits celebrate Mahashivratri, their holiest religious festival, with much reverence.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his greetings on this occasion, highlighting the festival's significance to the vibrant Kashmiri Pandit culture.
Mahashivratri, a key festival for the Shaivite Brahmin community, also reflects Kashmir’s rich multi-religious culture. The festival begins with a nightlong 'Puja,' followed by visits from Muslim neighbors, who greet their Pandit friends the next day.
For G.L. Daftari, who migrated in the 1990s, the warmth of those shared meals and greetings from Muslim friends remains a cherished memory. The dish most associated with the festival is fish cooked with lotus stems (Nadru) and radish, a tradition still kept alive by the community, though it lacks the same flavor without the company of old friends.
While older generations of Kashmiri Pandits hold onto memories of communal harmony, younger generations born after the exodus in the 1990s only hear stories of this brotherhood, which now feels distant.
Today, those living in the Valley visit Shiv temples, like the one atop Shankaracharya Hill in Srinagar, to pray and celebrate. Walnuts, an essential part of the festival, are sent to daughters, sisters, and Muslim neighbors, reinforcing ties. Despite their migration, Mahashivratri remains a unifying festival, keeping the community’s connection to Kashmir alive.
