Social fabric of Kashmir valley has been painting the most beautiful portrait of secularism and brotherhood over its centuries old syncretic blend of religious and social customs. Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs have shared this land like siblings born of the same mother. Our unmatched communal harmony speaks volumes about the peace-loving and tolerant hearts of Kashmir.
The fusion of Sufism and Shaivism has blessed us with saints like Lalded and Sheikhul Alam RA, whose wisdom is embraced by all faiths. Lal Vakhs and Sheikh Shrukhs resonate in every home with love and reverence. From the shrine of Sheikh Hamza Makhdoom (RA) to the Sharika Temple on Hari Parbat, and the Chatti Patshahi Gurdwara near Kathi Darwaza, the sacred spaces stand as neighbours. Here, Awraad-e-Fatiha, Leelah, and Gurbani rise together, telling the world that in Kashmir, faith unites, never divides.
Such beautiful examples of coexistence are rarely seen anywhere else in the world. In Kashmir, Eid and Herath ( Mahashivratri) are not just festivals of one community, they are celebrated together. A Muslim’s greeting on a Hindu festival, and a Hindu’s visit on Eid, is the norm, not the exception. Three decades of turmoil could not shake this foundation.
Even after the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits, those who stayed here never felt the void, for Kashmiri Muslims embraced them as their own limbs and continue to do so. When there is no one to bid farewell to a Pandit funeral, Kashmiri Muslims perform the last rites. At Pandit weddings, Muslim women still sing the same songs and dance with the same joy as they did for centuries.
To those who seek to poison this valley with communal hatred in the name of faith or festivals, this enduring brotherhood is the answer to them.
The valley of Sufis and Munis has long been a cradle of composite traditions. One such glory of the land is called Amarnaath Yatra where Hindus are pilgrims and Muslims are hosts, a pony wala, a vendor at high altitude lakes ensures every necessary item is available to the pilgrims. Muslims rush to the rescue of the pilgrims in case of any exigency or mishap.
The Amarnath Yatra is more than a pilgrimage, it is the living embodiment of Kashmiriyat and brotherhood. With great fervor and love, Kashmiri Muslims host the Yatris every year. Their hospitality has no parallel. We have seen time and again how injured and ailing pilgrims are treated with care and compassion by the people of the valley. Through turmoil and unrest, this sacred journey has never been halted. Communals and haters tried their best to break the bond of communal harmony that binds this land together, but their nefarious designs brought them extreme humiliation and obloquy.
We have been tolerant to other religious communities through centuries. The most beautiful reflection of our religious tolerance lies in the way we bear our guests on our very shoulders. Thousands of elderly, frail, and ailing Yatris are carried in sedan chairs by Kashmiri Muslims over rugged mountains. At those dizzying heights, where a shop or a cup of tea is beyond imagination, our people ensure the pilgrims have food, medicine, and care. In every accident, in every moment of need, Kashmiri Muslims have always stood beside the Yatris with unwavering support. Let the voice shriller to the toxic minds that there is no room for hatred and disharmony. Kashmir is and will be the land of religious and ethnic tolerance. Amarnaath Yatris and Kashmiris are nail and flesh, and none in the world can separate them.
Author is a Teacher and a Columnist. He can be reached at mushtaqhurra143@gmail.com
