Mehbooba extends Navreh greetings, calls for return of Kashmiri Pandits

Srinagar Mar 30: In a heartfelt message on the occasion of Navreh, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) President and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti extended her warm greetings to the Kashmiri Pandit community, wishing them joy, prosperity and peace.
Reflecting on the rich cultural heritage shared between Kashmiri Pandits and Muslims, Mufti highlighted how their coexistence was strengthened through shared celebrations. “For centuries, both communities have participated in each other’s festivals, fostering a spirit of mutual respect and camaraderie. During Navreh, Kashmiri Muslims would extend greetings and sometimes join in the celebrations, while Kashmiri Pandits reciprocated by participating in Eid festivities, exchanging greetings, and sharing festive meals,” she said.
The PDP Chief highlighted how this tradition of togetherness is deeply embedded in Kashmir’s collective memory. “It is reflected in the small but significant gestures of solidarity like Muslim shopkeepers selling puja items during Kashmiri Pandit festivals and offering assistance during celebrations at revered sites such as the Kheer Bhawani temple during Zyeshth Ashtami. These traditions are a testament to the inclusive spirit of Kashmiriyat, the cultural ethos that binds the people of the valley,” she said.
Recognising the painful history of the Kashmiri Pandit community, Mehbooba acknowledged the trauma and hardships they have endured due to their displacement over the past decades. She expressed sympathy for their struggles and acknowledged the sense of loss that both communities have experienced. “Kashmir is incomplete without its Kashmiri Pandits, as their absence has left a void in the valley’s social and cultural fabric,” she said, adding that Kashmir was, and always will be their home.
Mufti invited Kashmiri Pandits to return to their homeland, reassuring them that the valley remains theirs as much as anyone else’s. “Their cultural and spiritual heritage is an integral part of Kashmir’s identity,” she said.
Mehbooba appealed to the governments at the Centre and in Jammu and Kashmir for renewed efforts to create a safe and inclusive environment for the return of Kashmiri Pandits.
The former CM expressed her belief in the power of dialogue, understanding and shared history to bridge divisions. She called upon all Kashmiris Pandits and Muslims alike to revive their traditions of interfaith solidarity and collective celebration. “I hope the Navreh will serve as a time of new beginnings,” she said.