This is happening in Achan village in Pulwama. Local Muslims have joined hands with their neighbours to rebuild the Shiva temple.
The chairman of the local Waqf committee, Nazeer Mir, said that the Kashmiri Pandit family wanted the temple to be restored, so that devotees can again come here and worship.
In the past, people came from far and wide to pay obeisance at this temple. But after militancy began, the situation changed. Most of the Pandits had migrated from Achan, years ago.
The lone Hindu family in Achan wanted temple to be restored and hence local Muslims took up the task. Got Rs 4 lakh sanctioned from the district administration. They hope that the temple that was neglected for long, would be read soon for the devotees.
A report in The Tribune by M Aamir Khan mentions that, "This temple is famous for a spring that changes colours and devotees from all over the country used to come here".
Mohammad Yunus, a member of the Auqaf Committee, said they wanted that the temple bells and ‘azaan’ (call for prayer) were heard together at Achan. “It is our wish that Pandits return and live together with us like before.
Though the restoration work started in August last year, it had to be stopped in the winter due to heavy snowfall. By summer, we are hopeful that our village will hear the ‘azaan’ and temple bells together,” he said.
NDTV report by Nazir Masoodi quotes Bhushan Lal, "Our neighbours who are Muslims are doing it because they respect this temple". His younger brother, Sanjay Kumar, said it's their Muslim neighbours who are more important to them than their relatives who have migrated from the village.
He said it's not just restoration of the temple but they take care of everything in most troubled times. "We live here like brothers and the Awqaf committee helped us in its restoration" said Mr Kumar.
LINK: Pandits, Muslims join hands to renovate temple in Kashmir [Tribune]
Photo Courtesy: Early Post
Photo Courtesy: Early Post