Everyday Harmony: Kashmiri Pandits welcome back Hajis with Na’at recital Previously local Muslims had assisted in the rescue of Amarnath pilgrims during the flash-floods
18, Jul 2022 | CJP Team
Kashmiriyat is alive and well in the Valley, where Hindus and Muslims are showcasing how they are placing humanity above religion everyday.
Recently a video of Kashmiri Pandits welcoming Hajis at the Srinagar airport went viral on social media. The Pandits were singing traditional Na’at to welcome people returning from Hajj, the holy pilgrimage of Muslims.
Amidst the systematic hate leading to growing anger and despair, it is important to showcase a lived reality of camaraderie, equality and sharing which is the bedrock of the Indian Constitution and secularism. That way we not only hold on to every thread of hope, but effectively project these narratives, lest we lose our will to fight the good fight. As part of our #EverydayHarmony series, CJP brings you instances where Indians share and care, every single day… our food, our businesses, our homes and our friendships. This instances show how we Indians continue to reject hateful and divisive agendas even while street violence and social media are used as part of a sinister, hate-filled political agenda to tell us otherwise. Let’s reinforce India’s everyday lived reality, and through that collectively and aggressively, uphold and defend a unique pluralism, a diverse culture and truly secular values. Donate now to help us combat hate and prejudice!
Na’at is poetry praising Prophet Mohammed. The Hindus also offered their Muslim brothers and sister roses, handshakes and hugs.
Our Kashmiri Pandits welcoming Hajis at Srinagar airport today by singing traditional Naat seeking the blessings of Prophet. This is our syncretic culture believers of Islam are enablers of Amarnath Yatra & the followers of Shavism are messengers for unity. pic.twitter.com/5E7egZ2D7p
— Mohit Bhan موہت بھان (@buttkout) July 16, 2022
This is especially heartening given the history of Kashmiri Pandits in the region. A vast majority of the community had been forced to flee in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s due to pressure from Pakistan-sponsored terrorist organisations. But the local Indian Muslims had always shared a deep bond of friendship and brotherhood with their Hindu neighbours. This is how Kashmiriyat was born and survives to this day, even as 808 non-migrant Kashmiri Pandit families still live in over 200 refugee camps across the Valley.
This incident comes just days after local Muslims set aside Eid festivities to help the Indian Army’s disaster relief teams with rescue operations involving Amarnath yatra pilgrims who had been affected by the cloudburst and flash-floods in the region. The Muslim vendors including pony service providers and shopkeepers did not go back to their village to celebrate Eid with their families, and instead stayed back to help the Army with the rescue operations. Watch this report by TV9 Bharatvarsh:
The entire Kashmir region has been on the edge, not just in wake of the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, but also because of the recent spate of killings of Kashmiri Pandits. But it looks like Kashmiriyat, the humanity of the ordinary Kashmiri, is the key to maintaining peace and communal harmony.
Image courtesy: JK News service Twitter screengrab.
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