Ganderbal, Sep 4: Janmashtami celebrations in Nunnar area of central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district turned into a vibrant display of faith, brotherhood and communal harmony, as members of Hindu and Muslim communities came together for a traditional Krishna Janki procession.
The procession was taken out from the Videshwar Temple and culminated at the Devraj Bhirav Temple, with devotees, local residents and children participating in the celebrations marking the birth of Lord Krishna.
Residents said the procession revived an old tradition that was celebrated in the area before 1990 but remained disrupted for decades. According to participants, the Krishna Janki procession has been organised again for the past four years, helping restore a cultural practice rooted in the area’s shared social fabric.
Veerji Raina, a participant, said Janmashtami carries a message of peace, righteousness and coexistence. Referring to the teachings of Lord Krishna and the Bhagavad Gita, he said people should respect all faiths and live together peacefully.
“Lord Krishna has always taught us to respect every faith and live together. We should follow his teachings and maintain peace and harmony among ourselves,” Raina said.
He said the revival of the procession had acquired greater significance because of the participation of local Muslims. Last year, the Janki procession began from Vandhama, while this year it was taken out from the Vishweshwar Temple towards the Devraj Temple.
Varma, a resident of Beehama, said the celebrations reflected Kashmir’s traditional culture of communities participating in each other’s religious and social occasions.
“The atmosphere is very joyful. Hindus and Muslims have gathered together and are celebrating. While taking out the Janki, I saw local Muslims standing along the route and participating with us,” he said.
Varma also recalled an emotional moment during the procession when an elderly Muslim resident spoke about the past and remembered a time when people from different communities would gather in large numbers during such celebrations.
For participants, such moments offered a reminder of the neighbourhood bonds and shared traditions that once characterised social life in the area.
Jaleel Kumar Dara said the celebrations were aimed at restoring the atmosphere of communal participation that existed before 1990. He said the Janki tradition was revived in 2023 and has continued since then.
“We want to continue this tradition and bring back the same atmosphere that existed earlier, when our Muslim brothers, neighbours and local residents used to participate in the celebrations,” Dara said.
He said this year’s procession saw the participation of Kashmiri Pandits, students, local residents and people from different communities. He stressed the importance of respecting different faiths and traditions and passing the values of coexistence to the younger generation.
Local Muslim residents also welcomed the celebrations, describing the gathering as a symbol of brotherhood and mutual respect.
One local participant said he had not witnessed such an atmosphere in the area since his childhood and found it encouraging to see Kashmiri Pandits taking out the Janki while local Muslims stood alongside them.
“If they need anything, we are standing with them,” he said.
Participants said the teachings associated with Lord Krishna and the Bhagavad Gita have a wider message of righteousness, peace, respect and social harmony. They said such values could help strengthen mutual understanding among communities.
The celebrations in Nunnar therefore went beyond a religious observance, emerging as an effort to revive a shared cultural tradition and reinforce bonds between communities.
For local residents, the return of the Krishna Janki procession represents both the revival of a pre-1990 tradition and a reaffirmation of Kashmir’s enduring traditions of communal participation and coexistence.
