Hundreds of Kashmiri Pandits on Tuesday celebrated ‘Dashar Maha
Kumbh’ organised on the confluence of rivers Sindhu and Vitasta in
Ganderbal district of central Kashmir, after a period of 75 years.
“A large number of Kashmiri pandits participated in the mela held at
the Sangam (confluence) of the rivers Vitasta (Jhelum), Krishen Ganga
and Sindh (Indus) at Saidipora village in Ganderbal,” the organisers of
the mela said.
They said the sangam is sacred for the Pandit community for the immersion of the ashes of their dead.
They claimed the Kumbh was organised after 75 years.
“Last time such an alignment of celestial bodies happened was in 1941
and today after 75 years and 10 days the same celestial alignment was
in place,” they said.
The organisers said at the confluence, there is a Chinar tree that
stands on a small island in the middle of the confluence spot where
there is a Shiva Lingam and there are also religious places like
Shadipora Ghats and Narayan Bagh.
“On this day, the devotees take a bath at the holy Sangam to wash
away their sins and then proceed to the little island at the confluence
where a Chinar tree has been growing since long,” they said.
This tree is considered mystical and sacred by Kashmiri Pandits and
it is believed that even if the river is flooding, the tree never sinks,
they said.
The organisers said at the confluence of Jhelum river and Sindh
stream, Kumbh is celebrated every 12 years and Ardh Kumbh every six
years.
A 12-hour long ‘Havan’ (offerings to fire) was started on Monday at Sangam and ended on Tuesday, they said.
The government had made elaborate arrangements for the mela.
Courtesy: The Indian Express
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