Friday, July 15, 2016

Temple Heritage Series - Naranag

Naranag is situated in district Ganderbal near a village called Wangat. The temple town, was an important religious and trading Center during the Hindu rulers time. The temples believed to be in hundreds and now limited to 7, are situated on the banks of river kanakvahini. In Sanskrit Kanak means gold and vahini means carrier. It is said that the river carried gold pieces and that is how it derived it's name. It is believed that it was also a place for many alchemists to experiment here.


The temples were built primarily by Lalitaditya and has subsequent additions by many kings, prominent one being Avantivarman. The temples are located on the foot hills of Buteshwar range, now called as Butsher by local gujjars. While many people believe that Buteshwar means the God of bhoots (ghosts), the real meaning is the God of timeless time. The entire area is sacred to Hindus of Kashmir, as it on the foothills of the holy harmukh peak. The peak is seen as the manifestation of lord Shiva and has the holy lake gGngabal, the Ganges of Kashmir. The source of kanak vahini. The traditional route for Harmukh pilgrimage started either from Prung via chathargul or bandipora and the end was at Naranag. Due to security concerns, the Yatra now starts and ends at Naranag. The Sodaratirtha referred in the Nilamata Purana is among the scared tiratha in Kashmir Valley presently known as Nara Nag.










Thursday, July 14, 2016

Kashmiri Pandits observe 'black day' against 1931 riots

Jammu, Jul 13 (PTI) A group of displaced Kashmiri Pandits today observed 'black day' to commemorate the July 13, 1931 riots against the community in the Valley and demanded better security, especially in the wake of violence following the killing of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani.

"The situation has not changed from 1931 till today.

Kashmiri Pandits were attacked then and even today in 2016 they are attacked," Ravinder Raina, President, All State Kashmiri Pandit Conference (ASKPC) said.

He demanded better security to the community in Jammu and Kashmir after he alleged that stones were pelted at the houses of Kashmiri Pandits following the death of the Hizbul commander.

Anoop Bhat, Coordinator, Roots in Kashmir (RIK), said "whenever the majority population of the Valley has any issue with the ruling dispensation, the minority community faces the brunt." 

"The July 13, 1931 riots, 1986 South Kashmir riots or the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits are the prime examples of how the Kashmiri Pandit community has constantly lived in fear of life and honour," he said.

RIK spokesperson Aroop Rayu said the Kashmiri Pandits currently living in the state are in dire need of a "full proof security" and that the Centre should rethink its composite township model.

http://www.ptinews.com/news/7650752_Kashmiri-Pandits-observe--black-day--against-1931-riots.html