The Teetwal hamlet in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district radiated with the glow of earthen lamps as Diwali marked its joyous return to the Mata Sharda Devi temple after 75 years, according to the organizers of the event.
The temple, situated in the area along the Line of Control (LoC), witnessed prayers on this auspicious occasion, embodying a significant moment of cultural and religious revival.
Ravinder Pandita, Head and founder of the Save Sharda Committee, expressed immense joy, stating, “It’s a matter of happiness that Diwali is being celebrated in the same way as it used to be for 75 years. The inauguration of this temple was done on March 22 after its renovation.”
Pandita also appealed to the government to open Sharda Peeth, comparing it to Kartarpur Sahib. “This is our request to the government that Sharda Peeth gets open like Kartarpur Sahib,” he urged.
Following the Diwali rituals, the local community gathered outside the temple, creating a festive atmosphere with the bursting of firecrackers. The reconstruction of the ancient temple and its surroundings aimed at reviving the centuries-old pilgrimage route to the Sharda Peeth temple in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Sharda Peeth, situated in Sharda village along the Neelum River, was a renowned centre of learning and is considered one of the 18 highly revered temples across South Asia.
The Save Sharda Committee played a pivotal role in reconstructing the temple and a Sikh gurdwara, reclaiming the sacred site. The temple was inaugurated on March 22 this year after undergoing renovation due to past attacks.
“The inauguration of this temple was done on March 22 after its renovation as it was demolished during the attacks in the past. Prior to the tribal raids in 1947, a dharmshala and a Sikh gurdwara used to exist in the same plot that was burnt down in the raids,” explained Mr Pandita.
Teetwal, historically a pilgrimage route to Sharda Peeth, had been disrupted since 1948 after tribal raids and partition. The resurgence of Diwali celebrations at the Mata Sharda Devi temple signifies a cultural revival and reinforces the spirit of heritage preservation in the region
