Mirwaiz Umar Farooq urges Kashmiri Pandits to return, emphasizes cultural values

SRINAGAR — Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday called upon Kashmiri Pandits to return to Kashmir, saying that their motherland is awaiting them.

During his sermon from the pulpit of the historic Jamia Masjid during Friday prayers, Mirwaiz extended greetings to the Kashmiri Pandit community on the occasion of Mela Kheer Bhawani.

"I would also once again ask them to return to their motherland which awaits them, and live here as they did in the past, in our common and shared heritage. It’s time to reconcile and rebuild the broken bonds. We owe it to our next generation," he added.

Mirwaiz also addressed a recent incident in Dal Lake where a group of people were found drinking publicly in a Shikara. He expressed relief that authorities had taken action but stressed that the responsibility of preventing such incidents lies with the community.

"Being a tourist place, all kinds of visitors will come here. It is for us to ensure that the ethos of Kashmir, based on the values and principles of Islam, stays intact. We have to be aware of it all the time and consciously work towards preserving it, especially those people who are directly or indirectly associated with tourism," he said.

Mirwaiz expressed hope that the community would continue to play an active role in preserving its moral and religious character.

"Our prosperity in the real sense—which will stand us in good stead in this life and in the hereafter—lies only in following the righteous path shown by Islam in all affairs of life and dealings with others, and not in immoral acts, corrupt practices, and cheating as a shortcut to flourish," he said.

Meanwhile, Mirwaiz announced that if authorities permit, Eid-ul-Adha prayers will be offered collectively at the historic Eidgah Srinagar at 9 am. Otherwise, Eid prayers will be offered at the same time in Jamia Masjid Srinagar.

This post first appeared on The Kashmir Pulse