A marriage between Kashmiri Pandits, graced by the efforts of local Muslims in Loswani tells more than what appears on the surface when turmoil has gripped Kashmir.
In a rare instance of communal harmony and Kashmiriyat, Muslims arranged for the marriage of local Pandits in small village of Tahab in Pulwama District of south Kashmir.
This comes at a time when Kashmir is reeling under possibly its worst unrest, stone pelting and witnessing protests every day for more than three months now.
The Muslim community came forward and made arrangements for the marriage of Aashu Tikoo, the son of Maharaj Tikoo. Aashu, a resident of Tahab Pulwama got married to Neeshu Pandita of Loswani, Pulwama today.
WEDDING BELLS
Continuing the old tradition, the bridegroom reached the house of bride at 11 in the morning and returned at 8 in the evening, spending nine hours there along Bharaties including Muslims and Pandits together, before bringing the bride home at Tahab.
At the residence of Aashu at tahab, locals Muslims arranged, and helped the family in all works. The community arranged wood and tents, cleaned the premises, and decorated the house and surroundings.
In a rare instance of communal harmony and Kashmiriyat, Muslims arranged for the marriage of local Pandits in small village of Tahab in Pulwama District of south Kashmir.
This comes at a time when Kashmir is reeling under possibly its worst unrest, stone pelting and witnessing protests every day for more than three months now.
WHEN KASHMIRI SONGS FILLED THE AIR
A scene was created when the women of two communities were seen singing local Kashmiri songs and dancing throughout the day alongwith the Pandit women who had come from Jammu to participate in the marriage ceremony.
The bride’s village, Loswani, was lit up for the ceremony.
People of Muslim and Sikh Community were seen participating in the marriage, and were busy making arrangements for the bridegroom.
Men and women came forward to arrange food, erect tents, treating guests and decorating the house and even were seen serving the food to pandit guests.
‘OLD BROTHERHOOD STILL ALIVE’
Earlier on the Mehandi Raat at both the places, women of these communities spent the night while singing the Kasmiri songs.
The Pandit guests, who are also migrants, expressed disbelief at the thread of brotherhood kept alive. Usha Kumari, a pandit guest from Jammu said, “I was amazed to see that our Muslim community women sang along us, men made most of the arrangements like serving food, erecting tents etc. It is unbelievable that the old tradition and brotherhood is still alive.”
The locals said that the Pandits and Sikhs were and will remain their own people. (India Today)