Srinagar, Nov 12: In a historic and inclusive celebration that transcended religious boundaries, the festival of lights, Diwali, illuminated the Line of Control (LoC) in the Teetwal area of the Kupwara border district on Sunday. This marked the inaugural lighting of the LoC on Diwali since India gained independence.
Residents, supported by the Save Sharda Committee, joyously marked Diwali for the first time in 75 years along the Line of Control, with Hindus and Muslims participating in the festivities, symbolising communal harmony.
At the Sharda temple in LoC Teetwal, Kashmir, Diwali celebrations took place for the first time in 75 years, reviving a historic tradition extinguished during partition when the temple and gurudwara were razed in tribal raids.
Commander Kumara Das of the 104 Vijay Shakti Brigade led the puja ceremony, joined by Ravinder Pandita, the Head, and founder of the Save Sharda Committee, Kashmir.
Scores of locals and Sikhs from Tribhoni village enthusiastically took part in the celebrations, including the performance of Satyanarayan Puja and the distribution of sweets.
The occasion was graced by the presence of Tehsildar Tangdhar Eyad Qadri, activist Dr. Sandeep Mawa, Sharda Committee members Ajaz Khan, Iftikhar, Retired Captain Ilyas, Hamid Mir, and Sikhs from Tribhoni. Civil society members from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) extended warm greetings by waving white flags and chanting Diwali slogans on the Chilhana side. The Teetwal civil society further presented a cake to commemorate this auspicious occasion.
The Diwali celebrations at the LoC not only illuminated the borderlands but also served as a powerful symbol of unity, fostering a sense of togetherness among communities that transcends historical divides. This milestone celebration has etched a new chapter in the history of the region, exemplifying the triumph of cultural harmony over decades of separation.
