"Roots In Kashmir" is an initiative launched by us, the Kashmiri Pandit Youth, to reclaim our Roots that identify us. Even though we have been hounded out of our homes and hearths in the Kashmir valley, our "Roots" are very much anchored in the Vitasta Valley. This is an initiative to protest and raise the general awareness of public to a level where our "fight for our roots" is felt, heard and acted upon. rootsinkashmir@outlook.com
Showing posts with label Sharika. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sharika. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Press Coverage on Navreh
The Times of India(Delhi Edition)-
Ringing in the New Year, Kashmiri style
Aastha ManochaThe Indian Express - http://www.kashmirlive.com/story/Ringing-in-the-New-Year-Kashmiri-style/294137.html
-
New Delhi, April 8: Waking up all night to usher in the New Year’s first sun rays isn’t a uniquely western concept after all. In Kashmir, it is traditional to do so as was seen in the Navreh celebrations.
-
Roots in Kashmir, a Kashmiri Pandit youth initiative, in association with Kashmiri Seva Samaj had organized the celebration of the Kashmiri New Year or Navreh for the second year in a row. The celebrations began at 2.30 pm on Sunday afternoon and ended on Monday morning with an aarti at Sharika Devi’s temple up on Hari Parbat, Faridabd.
Roots in Kashmir, a Kashmiri Pandit youth initiative, in association with Kashmiri Seva Samaj had organized the celebration of the Kashmiri New Year or Navreh for the second year in a row. The celebrations began at 2.30 pm on Sunday afternoon and ended on Monday morning with an aarti at Sharika Devi’s temple up on Hari Parbat, Faridabd.
-
This year’s Navreh, which literally means ‘new spark’, saw the famous singer Kailash Mehra enthralls the audience with her melodious voice as she sang songs steeped in Kashmiri history and culture like Shamas Fakir, Ahmed Batwari, Krishnajoo Razdan, bringing in the memories of the old days in Kashmir. However, before that the audience was addressed by Shri P N Raina, who had specially come from Jammu for the celebrations and Shri J N Kaul, founder of SOS India, who had also been instrumental in building the temple, a replica of the original hill-top temple of Kashmir, in Faridabad.
-
Both of them reminded the Pandits to revive their unique culture through events such as this and appreciated the efforts of the younger generations.
Both of them reminded the Pandits to revive their unique culture through events such as this and appreciated the efforts of the younger generations.
-
More than the cultural programmes was the spirit of togetherness that was seen shared among the people there as families sat on the lawns modelled on the famous Badam Vari or almond garden of Kashmir, as they lay down their sheets and shared home-made Kashmiri food they also shared old memories of the past when they used to celebrate new year in their homeland. The most common refrain among seen each other was ‘where have you been all this time’.
More than the cultural programmes was the spirit of togetherness that was seen shared among the people there as families sat on the lawns modelled on the famous Badam Vari or almond garden of Kashmir, as they lay down their sheets and shared home-made Kashmiri food they also shared old memories of the past when they used to celebrate new year in their homeland. The most common refrain among seen each other was ‘where have you been all this time’.
-
While the numbers dwindled out into the night, the zest was still there as Kashmiri singers sung songs of all moods, often ending in people letting their hair down and dancing to the tunes. It was quite a sight to see people of all ages attempting a ‘roff’ the traditional arm in arm dance of Kashmir to songs like the original folk version of the Bollywood number Bhumbro Bhumbro.
While the numbers dwindled out into the night, the zest was still there as Kashmiri singers sung songs of all moods, often ending in people letting their hair down and dancing to the tunes. It was quite a sight to see people of all ages attempting a ‘roff’ the traditional arm in arm dance of Kashmir to songs like the original folk version of the Bollywood number Bhumbro Bhumbro.
-
The all night long celebration ended with an aarti early in the morning to bring in a pious start to the New Year.
-The all night long celebration ended with an aarti early in the morning to bring in a pious start to the New Year.
http://www.theshadow.in/theshadow/newsdet.aspx?q=657
The Daily Shadow(J&K)
-
http://www.earlytimes.in/
The Early Times(J&K)
Navreh Celebrations at Hari Parvat,Anangpur,Faridabad
Pictures of the Navreh Celebrations......
Legendary Kashmiri Singer Kailash Mehra enthralling the audiences..... She brought the past back to us....From Naem Saab's Bedardi Dade Chane to Krishaan Joo Razdan's Bel tay Madal it was journey of nostalgia but with Sahebo Sat Cham mae Chaane it was a voice of hope...
And she bade farewell for now with Paertho Gilas-e-kuleney Tal
and Sh.J.N.Kaul blesses Kailash Mehra...
Roots in Kashmir unveiling its New Logo
Ravi Bhan singing Moti Lal Saqi's"Ganemat Sham-e-Gham"
A section of the Audience....
Legendary Kashmiri Singer Kailash Mehra enthralling the audiences..... She brought the past back to us....From Naem Saab's Bedardi Dade Chane to Krishaan Joo Razdan's Bel tay Madal it was journey of nostalgia but with Sahebo Sat Cham mae Chaane it was a voice of hope...And she bade farewell for now with Paertho Gilas-e-kuleney Taland Sh.J.N.Kaul blesses Kailash Mehra...
Roots in Kashmir unveiling its New LogoRavi Bhan singing Moti Lal Saqi's"Ganemat Sham-e-Gham" A section of the Audience....Friday, April 4, 2008
Counting off another year with Navreh by Aastha Manocha(in the Indian Express)
Faridabad, April 4:
Hari Parvat is a name most Kashmiris would be familiar with but what is it doing in the NCR?
Hari Parvat is the famous mountaintop temple dedicated to the presiding deity of the Kashmiri Hindus – Sharika Devi. The exiled community of Kashmiri Hindus, popularly known as Kashmiri Pandits, have built a replica of Hari Parvat in Faridabad where they gather every now and then to give themselves the illusion of being at home. Currently the Pandits are busy decking up their famous Parvat for Navreh, or the Kashmiri New Year.
The Kashmiris follow a different calendar called the Vikrami Samvat, and all of their activities including recording of birthdays are done in accordance with it. Ask any older Kashmiri Pandit their date of birth according to the Gregorian calendar and they will take a while to answer as in their mind they are calculating it according to the Vikrami Samvat.
There is an interesting legend behind the origin of the Hari Parvat it is believed that the goddess Lakshmi assumed the form of a Sharika or ‘mynah’ to kill the demon Jalodbhava. She carried a pebble in her beak and dropped it on the demon under which the demon got buried. It is from this day that human habitation flourished in Kashmir. The pebble is what is called the Hill of Sharika or Hari Parvat in the heart of the Srinagar City. Since then this day is being celebrated as the Kashmiri New Year or Navreh.
So Navreh is, in essence, a celebration of being born, of ringing in the New Year with a story of being born in the Garden of Eden which is unfortunately lost for now.
In 2007, Anupam Kher flew down from Mumbai to celebrate Navreh here. The festival also sees famous Kashmiri artists enthralling the audience. This year it will be Kailash Mehra, also known as ‘Mallika-e-ghazal’.
The festivities continue all night and end with a pooja in the morning to mark the first day of the New Year. As one of them says, ‘it is about celebrating life and cherishing our culture in spite of what we’ve gone through’.
This year’s Navreh is doubly special as it also has the blessings of the Dalai Lama himself. Moved by the plight of the Tibetans and the similarity of their struggle for their homeland to that of the Pandits’, the Dalai Lama had been invited to this year’s celebrations, though his busy schedule made that impossible, he gave his blessings for the occasion.
In present day Kashmir probably Jalodhbhav has reappeared in the form of terrorism and maybe the conscientious observation of this day will bring up another Sharika to slay this unrelenting demon and put an end to the inhumanity.
Hari Parvat is a name most Kashmiris would be familiar with but what is it doing in the NCR?
Hari Parvat is the famous mountaintop temple dedicated to the presiding deity of the Kashmiri Hindus – Sharika Devi. The exiled community of Kashmiri Hindus, popularly known as Kashmiri Pandits, have built a replica of Hari Parvat in Faridabad where they gather every now and then to give themselves the illusion of being at home. Currently the Pandits are busy decking up their famous Parvat for Navreh, or the Kashmiri New Year.
The Kashmiris follow a different calendar called the Vikrami Samvat, and all of their activities including recording of birthdays are done in accordance with it. Ask any older Kashmiri Pandit their date of birth according to the Gregorian calendar and they will take a while to answer as in their mind they are calculating it according to the Vikrami Samvat.
There is an interesting legend behind the origin of the Hari Parvat it is believed that the goddess Lakshmi assumed the form of a Sharika or ‘mynah’ to kill the demon Jalodbhava. She carried a pebble in her beak and dropped it on the demon under which the demon got buried. It is from this day that human habitation flourished in Kashmir. The pebble is what is called the Hill of Sharika or Hari Parvat in the heart of the Srinagar City. Since then this day is being celebrated as the Kashmiri New Year or Navreh.
So Navreh is, in essence, a celebration of being born, of ringing in the New Year with a story of being born in the Garden of Eden which is unfortunately lost for now.
In 2007, Anupam Kher flew down from Mumbai to celebrate Navreh here. The festival also sees famous Kashmiri artists enthralling the audience. This year it will be Kailash Mehra, also known as ‘Mallika-e-ghazal’.
The festivities continue all night and end with a pooja in the morning to mark the first day of the New Year. As one of them says, ‘it is about celebrating life and cherishing our culture in spite of what we’ve gone through’.
This year’s Navreh is doubly special as it also has the blessings of the Dalai Lama himself. Moved by the plight of the Tibetans and the similarity of their struggle for their homeland to that of the Pandits’, the Dalai Lama had been invited to this year’s celebrations, though his busy schedule made that impossible, he gave his blessings for the occasion.
In present day Kashmir probably Jalodhbhav has reappeared in the form of terrorism and maybe the conscientious observation of this day will bring up another Sharika to slay this unrelenting demon and put an end to the inhumanity.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Navreh Celebrations
Roots in Kashmir
in association with
Kashmiri Sewak Samaj,Faridadad
announces the celebration of the Navreh (the Kashmiri New Year) on 6th of April,08 (Sunday).
in association with
Kashmiri Sewak Samaj,Faridadad
announces the celebration of the Navreh (the Kashmiri New Year) on 6th of April,08 (Sunday).
-Atop the hillock,near the Anangpur Village,Faridabad,rests the replica of the temple of Sharika(the presiding deity of Kashmir).It is there that exiled Kashmiri Pandits celebrate this day,much like it has been celebrated for 5000 years now.The religious rites will be followed by a Youth Festival featuring some of the most celebrated Kashmiri Artists.The celebrations will continue through the night till the arrival of the first rays of New Year on 7th of April,08.
-
-
Our celebration is a befitting reply to all those who thought, well we have decimated the Pandits.
-
We are here to live and return to the Roots.
We are here to live and return to the Roots.
-
Roots in Kashmir extends a warm invitation to everyone to be a part of the celebrations.
Roots in Kashmir extends a warm invitation to everyone to be a part of the celebrations.
-
Picture Gallery of the Previous Navreh Celebrations
http://www.rootsinkashmir.org/press/mar182007youthfestival.php
For any information/assistance please feel free to contact
Vinod Bhan:9910253637
Amal Magazine:9873900479
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)