Dear members,

This piece of news I read today at the site below
really gladdened my heart beyond words! Hope you will
feel the same way too!

http://in.news.yahoo.com/060705/139/65mjb.html
Rgds,
dAsan,
Sudarshan

******************

Wednesday July 5, 11:02 AM
Lord Vishnu's Temple reopens after 16 years in Kashmir


Srinagar, July 5 (ANI): A temple dedicated to Lord
Vishnu (the Preserver) reopened with a grand festival
on Tuesday after 16 years in Kashmir.

The temple, which was closed at the height of an
Islamic revolt against Indian rule in the state in the
1990s, was thrown open to public on July 4.

As the militancy grew stronger in Kashmir in 1989,
leading to the large-scale exodus of Kashmiri Hindus
or Pandits, the Vaishnavite Temple, located in the
dense forests of South Kashmir was abandoned.

As the situation returned to normal in the Kashmir
Valley, after a tentative peace process between India
and Pakistan that began in early 2004, efforts were
also made to reopen the temple.

Kashmiri Pandits thronged the temple in thousands
without any fear and were moved by the warm welcome
they received from the majority Muslim community.

Muslims showed equal enthusiasm and welcomed the
temple's reopening.

"I heard about the fair from my father and I always
longed to witness this. Today after 16 years this fair
has come up," said Hilal Ahmed, a Muslim resident.

Chaman Lal Matoo, a Kashmiri Pandit added: "It seems
that nothing has happened. I feel that Muslims also
keep looking for their loved ones. We are new here,
but still they are so cordial to us."

The Pandit, who organised a yagna on the occasion,
said the festivities would serve as a platform for
Hindus and Muslims to shed hatred and restore bonds of
brotherhood.

The Indian army provided the basic facilities for
reopening the shrine. (ANI)

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Sudarshan Madabushi
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