Highlights significance of Navreh, Navratras
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Mar 19: Lt. Governor, Manoj Sinha on Thursday while encouraging the youth to build a strong and lasting connection with the timeless traditions, rich spiritual heritage and wisdom, said youth will not merely inherit India’s legacy but reshape it and propel it towards a developed sustainable tomorrow.
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Addressing Navreh Mahotsav function organised by Kashmiri Pandit Sabha (KPS) here today, Sinha also laid emphasis on passing on the cultural traits to the younger generation which shall serve as a bridge in keeping the rich culture of Kashmiri Pandits alive. Lt Governor, who was the chief guest on the occasion, said “Culturally rich youth shall contribute meaningfully to the growth and development of the nation”.
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Expressed his satisfaction on the preservation of age old customs and traditions by the Kashmiri Pandits, he appreciated their efforts on continuing with the cultural ethos and keeping the cultural identity alive.
The function was attended by a cross section of Kashmiri Pandits, including intellectuals, political leaders, social activists, technocrats etc.
The Lt Governor, while greeting the people on the occasion, remarked on the significance of Navreh and the Pooja on the first day of the Chaitra Navratra in Kashmiri culture. He also highlighted the significance of nine days of the festival. He said during the nine days Goddess is not only worshiped in different forms for dedicated spiritual practice aimed at self realisation, inner peace and divine connection but for Shakti (power) as well.
He said Navreh or Navratra is not only a festival but internal Yatra of a devotee to have self realisation which completely transformers a devotee so that he identifies his inner soul. During these nine days, a devotee gets fully associated with universe, he added while quoting a verse of Sant Kabir, a saint of Bhakti movement in this regard. During these nine days, a devotee fully gets purified with spiritual practice and also gets self realisation, the Lt Governor added.
The Lt Governor said “Our ancient culture and traditions are our basic legacy and it is to be preserved and transmitted to our youth so that they can contribute in growth and development of the nation”.
He said Jammu and Kashmir holds the potential for a dynamic and flourishing future, growing into a vibrant center of culture and advancing into a prosperous Union Territory through steady progress.
“Achieving this vision ultimately depends on the younger generation. I sincerely hope that our youth will draw strength from the wisdom passed down by our ancestors and work with determination to elevate Jammu Kashmir to a place among the country’s developed regions,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
He invoked the blessings of Maa Sharika for the health, prosperity, and well-being of all.
Interacting with the devotees, the Lieutenant Governor wished that the New Year usher in a radiant dawn for everyone, illuminating paths to renewed hope and a thriving future.
“Worship of Maa Durga and Maa Sharika is a profound bow to the primal source of power from which universe spring. As Rigveda says, the Mother’s strength is infinite. The true seeker who worships her with sincerity attains the essence of reality, from which all life’s insights flow effortlessly. I personally hold that Navreh and Navratri mark an inner journey,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
He highlighted that our traditions outline four stages of devotion- attentively hearing the prayer, deeply contemplating it, internalizing it fully, and reaching Samadhi, where the knower and the known merge as one. “I pray that all devotees experience these stages in life,” he said.
On the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor also felicitated Brij Lal Bhat. Dr SP Varma; Dr Ashok Bhan, Member, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board; Brij Mohan Sharma, Principal Secretary Culture; Ashok Koul, BJP general secretary (Org), J&K and Ladakh; former Chief Vigilance Commissioner, Kuldeep Khoda, K K Khosa president KPS and its Senior vice president Deepak Dhar. Senior officials and prominent citizens were also present.
In his address, Ashok Koul who was the guest of honour, said Navreh is one of the main festivals of Kashmiri Pandits. He urged the community to make a resolve to celebrate the next Navreh in Kashmir Valley.
The celebration, which marked the beginning of the 5102nd Saptarishi Year, included a strong pledge to celebrate next year’s festivities in the Kashmir Valley.
The “Sammaroh” commenced with the Ganesh Satuti by a renowned Kashmiri singer Ravi Bhan followed by Kashmiri Bhajans.
K.K. Khosa, president, KPS in his welcome speech appreciated the commendable initiatives taken by the Central and UT Governments in the recent past to normalize the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. He said sincere efforts have been put towards the infrastructural development of the UT after the abrogation of Article 370. Adequate budget was allocated by governments towards the renovation and protection of Hindu religious places in the Valley.
He however said, the plight of Kashmiri displaced community after their mass exodus from the Valley still remains unattended. Khosa further emphasised on return and rehabilitation of the KPs in the Valley with safety and dignity. He repeated the demand of KP Sabha for the rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits in the erstwhile three districts of the Valley with security and dignity. Attention of the UT Government was also drawn towards framing the policy to offer jobs to the unemployed and overage Kashmiri youths. In the background of escalation in the market prices of daily commodities, it was also urged upon to enhance the relief of Kashmiri displaced community in Jammu.
Khosa laid emphasis on the intervention of UT Government in protecting the temples and other religious places of Pandits left unattended in the Valley.
Khosa said with KP the diaspora spreading far and wide, return and rehabilitation back in the Valley will require an enormous effort by the community itself as well. With multiple organizations protecting different kinds of resettlement models, no results are possible. The community has to formulate a robust return and rehabilitation proposal to be presented to the Government jointly. The proposal has to be pragmatic and realistic for it to be implemented on the ground. The programme was compared by Bindiya Tickoo.
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