Srinagar, July 1: Jammu & Kashmir has a rich history of shared festivities among its diverse religious and ethnic communities. This Eid has again rekindled the pleasant memories of the past, when Muslim, Pandit, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist and Christian communities would celebrate their festivals together with unique rituals, and traditions.
Even as religious syncretism is generally a pan-South Asian thing, Kashmir is known to have lived the tradition of shared festivities like nowhere else. The two festivals of Eid, Herath, Navreh, Baisakhi, Lohri, Navroz and other festivals used to be occasions of profound shared celebrations.
Urs Festivals of Sheikhul Aalam sahab at Chrar Sharief, Makhdoom sahab, Dastagir sahab, Baba Reshi sahab, Mela Khir Bhawani, Pir Baba in Jammu and many other Urs and festivals still attract devotees from Muslim, Pandit, Sikh and other communities in reverence and respect.
On the occasion of Eidul Azha, Ziraat Times spoke to people from diverse backgrounds across the state to understand how they see the shared past traditions and what they see as priorities to promote these legacies among the younger generations of all communities. Here is what they had to say:
Khurshid Ahmad Ganai (IAS, Former Advisor to J&K Govt, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister and State Information Commissioner)
In my childhood and younger days, which spanned almost the entire decades of nineteen sixties and seventies, we in Kashmir used to celebrate festivals of all religious communities and enjoy the celebrations, be it the fairs associated with Sufi saints, Kheer Bhawani or yatras like Amarnath yatra etc. The two Eids, Shivratri, Janamashtami and Dussehra were popular among large sections from all communities. There has been some setback due to migration of minorities in the early nineties but things are gradually coming back to where these were before migration. I fervently hope that Kashmir will once again become a land of harmony and cooperation where all communities will start living together as they used to.
Dr Sanjay Parva (Kashmir-born writer and thinker, who has authored four books, including first-ever coffee table book on Kargil region)
The generation born after 1990 isn’t aware of the legacy that composite culture of Kashmir that existed. There was no distinction between different communities following different festivities stemming from different faiths. In fact, at times, it appeared all followed the same festivities in different form. For example, distribution of Tahaer (yellow rice) offered to neighbors and passersby was common between one and all. Maybe such festivities transcended from generation to generation finding root in the parent generation which had the same DNA. Generation in their 50s now will be doing great injustice to younger generation of our mystical Valley if they fail to pass on glorious legacy of our pluralistic past to them. Cultural events, done at private level, and brining together one and all with past experiences, is one of the many ways we can lead ourselves to being a morally profound society.
Naeem Akhtar (Former chief spokesperson, minister of erstwhile J&K Govt and leader of PDP)
I recall it with nostalgia. It was an organic culture that had evolved over centuries of togetherness. But, unfortunately, I don’t see it coming back soon. Because of two factors – distances created between communities are not only emotional but physical too. New generations have been living apart and fed on stories of excesses on either side. Not just that, even within communities,  the family structure is getting torn apart as a fallout of new economic architecture and social fragmentation. We are seeing orphan parents in huge villas receiving financial help from their rich wards but not their presence.
Manzoor Ahmad Wangnoo (President, Nigeen Tourist Traders Association, Chairman of Bilaliya Group of Schools and chairman of Nigeen Lake Conservation Organisation)
The legacy of J&K in embracing harmony and celebrating shared traditions has been exemplary. The youth also need to embrace the vibrant festivities of Jammu and Kashmir, where diverse communities unite and celebrate our shared heritage. Together, we must strengthen bonds, foster understanding, and showcase the beauty of cultural harmony. Let’s rejoice in the spirit of togetherness!
Tejinder Singh (President of the J&K Kissan Council and member J&K Kissan Advisory Board)
J&K is rich in traditional spiritual heritage. Our festivals and religious centers teach us communal harmony. People from across South Asia have learnt humanity from J&K from time to time.
Suneel Wattal (Technocrat, with three decades of industry experience in global delivery management. His expertise lies in entrepreneurial strategy, mentoring, and counseling)
Kashmiris have a history of celebrating festivals in a cross-community environment. In the pre-90 era, it was a common sight for Muslims to participate in Herath festivities and Pandits would do the same during Eid. The prevalence of Sufi culture propagated the tradition of shared festivities. It was a norm for our household to distribute walnuts among Muslim neighbours during Herath, which would be reciprocated by sharing “Kurbaan Maaz” during Eid. One could distinctly see multi-community participation in Melas and Urs held throughout the year at various shrines.
Our Gen-X is probably unaware of such bonding, which makes it imperative for us to rejuvenate the culture of inter-community participation during festivals. As a first step, the civil society could organise events to promote the importance and history of such festivities. We could also look at organising Melas/ Urs to carry forward the legacy.
Anil Suri (Former President Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry and industrialist)
Shared festivities allow us to socialize and offer a refreshing break from every day life. It helps in trust building between communities, which results in providing economic benefits to local businesses, because, in my opinion, economy comes first followed by peace.
Bhushan Parimoo (Veteran environmentalist and author)
All Kashmiris  have a common  anthropological descent. Not withstanding their different religions, they have common faith in Pirs and Rishis. In hard times, they may or may not visit a temple, mosque or a gurdwara but everyone visits an ‘astan’ or a ‘ziarat’ that he or she has faith in. The  common festivities in such shrines is the greatest bond of the Kashmiri society.
Moreover, no matter what stream a student takes up, they should be introduced to comparative study with focus on finer points of every religion. At the social levels also this awareness is needed among parents and adults as well so that they could inculcate values of tolerance and mutual respect among their children and put the baggage of history behind. Above all, a forum should be created at various levels for joint celebration of festivals.
We have shared great times of togetherness and love not only between Kashmiri Muslims, Pandits and Sikhs, but also with our Hindu dogra brethren in Jammu. We used to celebrate Eid, Herath, Diwali, Baisakhi and Lohri together. When I used to be in Jammu on Diwali and Lohri we used to celebrate all like family together. When I think of those days, I wish those bonds of together and love could return one day.
Navreh, the Kashmiri Pandit New Year, was observed with profound religious rituals and cultural festivities. Muslim neighbors would extend their greetings and sometimes accompany Pandits to the temples. The celebration of Navreh together symbolized the shared cultural heritage and intercommunity bonds.
Mela Khir Bhawani: In and around the town of Ganderbal, Kashnmiri Pandits and people from different communities would come together, participate in rituals, exchange greetings, and share traditional sweets and delicacies, fostering a sense of unity and togetherness.
Jammu’s Lohri festival is a festival often celebrated by Hindu, Muslim and Sikh communities together. Celebrated on January 13th, Lohri marks the end of winter and the arrival of longer days. It used to be an occasion when Darbar Move government employees from Kashmir would join their Jammu colleagues  around bonfires, and sing traditional songs, perform folk dances, and distribute share sweets and snacks.
Baisakhi is celebrated on April 13th or 14th. The festival marks harvest festival and holds special significance for the Sikh community. People visit gurdwaras, participate in processions, and enjoy cultural performances. In Srinagar, there is a tradition of people visiting Mughal Gardens, and Muslims and Hindu communities joining their Sikh brethren in their festivities. People would come together to organize processions, dance to traditional tunes, and engage in community meals (Langar).
