Muslims and Pandits in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district have joined hands to restore an 80-year-old temple in Achan village, which is just 15 km from the site of the terror attack on the CRPF that left 40 jawans dead, reported NDTV.
The restoration work had been stopped after the attack led to the harassment of Kashmiris and widespread tension. It began again on Maha Shivratri, with Muslims serving traditional Kashmiri Kahwa tea to everyone at the temple, which is adjacent to the Jama Masjid. According to the locals, they wanted to hear the sound of the temple bell along with the Azaan.
“Our heartfelt desire is that same old times return which was here 30 years ago when temple bells rang here and on other side, the call of Azaan came from the mosque," Mohammad Younis, a resident, told NDTV.
The attempt to restore the temple comes despite the fact that there is only one Pandit family in the village, who approached the Masjid Auqaf committee because of the dilapidated condition of the temple.
“Our neighbours who are Muslims are doing it because they respect this temple,” said Bhushan Lal, another resident.
Sanjay Kumar, his younger brother, told NDTV that it was their Muslim neighbours who had become more important to them than their relatives in other villages. They live like brothers, he said.
Mohammad Maqbool, who is looking after the restoration work, says, “We are making efforts to restore this temple because we believe our Pandit brothers should not feel that their temple is incomplete.”
(With inputs from NDTV.)
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