The sacred grounds of the newly constructed Sharda Yatra Temple in Teetwal, Kashmir, at the Line of Control (LoC), came alive with the glow of Diwali celebrations this year. In a momentous gathering, Kashmiri Pandits, locals, and Indian Army personnel united to celebrate Diwali with candles and traditional oil lamps, infusing warmth and light into the crisp mountain air.
The event was led by construction committee member Ajaz Khan, who compared the historic celebration to the grandeur of Diwali in Ayodhya. Ravinder Pandita, founder and head of Save Sharda Committee Kashmir (Regd.), extended his Diwali greetings to Sharda followers worldwide.
The Save Sharda Committee, which spearheaded the temple’s reconstruction, has been working to restore both the Sharda Temple and an adjacent Sikh Gurudwara on the same plot of land, a site that once housed a dharmshala and gurdwara before being destroyed during the 1947 tribal raids.
Last year, the committee reclaimed the site, launching a reconstruction effort that is now nearing completion. This Diwali celebration at the Sharda Temple symbolizes not only the victory of light over darkness but also the revival of cultural and spiritual heritage along the Line of Control.