By News Agency of Kashmir
Jammu : For the first time in 18 years since migration from Valley, the Kashmiri Pandits shall be celebrating the Birthday of river Vitasta or Jhelum as it is popularly known in the state of Jammu and Kashmir on Sept 25.
Vitasta Devsathan Prabandak Committee (VDPC) Verinag Kashmir has decided to celebrate the birthday of Vitasta at its original place Veth-Vitru on Veth Truwah.
“The Hindus in Jammu and Kashmir believe the holy twin springs at Vitasta to be the virgin Roopa (Kumari Roopa) of Mata Parvati and the Hindus also believe that the Parvati after her marriage to Lord Shiva came in the form of a water spring at Verinag which is at one kilometer distance from the Veth-Vitru springs”, said B.N.Pandita.
“It will be the really a new world for me when I will visit my village Chinigund-Verinag after about eighteen years where I was born” said Rockey Pandita a resident of Chinigund now in Delhi.
“The people of Dooru-Verinag area are eagerly waiting to see their Pandit brothern after one and a half decade”, said Mohammad Sharief Peer of Shahbad Youth Development Forum who is busy in making arrangements for the comfortable stay of Kashmiri Pandits at Ommoh while talking to NAK. He said that Pandits shall be given a grand welcome by the locals who are waiting eagerly for their visit.
Ali Mohd. Mantoo, president Muncipal Committee, Dooru while talking to News Agency of Kashmir said that locals are very enthusiastic about the visit of Kashmiri Pandit brothers after about 18 years and have been making all the arrangements on their own for their comfortable stay. He said that all the corporators are overlooking the arrangements for the celebrations of Vet-truah by KPs and shall be joining in large numbers to celebrate the occasion in traditional way as was the practice during old days.
The Shahbad Youth Development Forum has been in continuance touch with Kashmiri pandits particularly who belong to Dooru-Shahbad and its adjoining villages for celebrating the Birthday of river Vitasta, says Farooq Ahmed Ganai, chairman of the Forum adding that the Forum is thankful to the district administration for providing men and material for making the function a success.
He said that Kashmiri pandits are part and parcel of Kashmir and can never be ignored even at time when people of Kashmir are passing through a difficult phase.
Mr. Ganai also extended his thanks to the concerned MLA for extending his help for organizing the function.