When Lakshmi Aarti took place amidst Sufi music at Ghanta Ghar, Srinagar, Diwali gave a big message to the world:

News India Live, Digital Desk: This Diwali brought not just a festival for Kashmir, but a ray of hope for which the valley had been waiting for decades. Srinagar’s historic Lal Chowk and its clock tower, once considered a symbol of protests and tension, lit up with lamps on Monday evening. A sight was seen here which perhaps no one could have imagined a few years ago.

Hundreds of people, including local Muslims and Kashmiri Pandits, were celebrating Diwali together. This celebration became a living symbol of the changing times in Kashmir, the return of peace and mutual brotherhood.

That special moment when traditions came together

The most beautiful and emotional moment of this program was when the tunes of Sufi music were echoing on the stage along with the traditional Lakshmi Puja and Aarti. On one hand, while the pundits were worshiping Goddess Lakshmi with chanting of mantras, on the other hand, Sufi singers were giving spiritual presentations of peace and worship rooted in the culture of Kashmir. It was a confluence that was presenting the true picture of the “New Kashmir”, where different faiths respect each other.

Lost celebration returned after 35 years

This event was especially emotional for those Kashmiri Pandits who were forced to leave the valley during the era of terrorism. For many, it was the first time in nearly 35 years that they were celebrating Diwali like this in public, in their own home, on their own land. There were tears of joy in their eyes and a hope that perhaps now the atmosphere of peace and security in the valley would become permanent, so that they would be able to return to their homes.

This was not just a government program, but local Kashmiri Muslims also participated enthusiastically in it. He distributed sweets to his Pandit brothers and helped in lighting the lamps. This Diwali at Ghanta Ghar was not just a celebration of a festival; It was like lighting a lamp of hope for a bright future after decades of darkness. This was a way of telling the world that Kashmir is now changing.