Srinagar, Oct 12 (UNI) Dussehra, the festival marked the triumph of good over evil, was celebrated with great religious fervour in Srinagar, officials said.
In the summer capital, the Vijay Dashmi (Dussehra) was successfully held at the Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium, Srinagar.
Organized by the Kashmiri Pandit Sangarsh Samiti, an organization which primarily addresses the concerns of resident Kashmiri Pandits who stayed back in the Valley, the festival brought together diverse communities from across the region to witness the symbolic burning of effigies of Ravana, Meghnath, and Kumbhkaran.
National Conference President Farooq Abdullah also attended Dussehra celebrations at Srinagar’s Stadium.
Abdullah appealed to Kashmiri Pandits to come back home.
“I hope that our brothers and sisters who have left from here come back home. Now the time has come, they should return to their homes,”: Abdullah told reporters. “We do not think only about Kashmiri Pandits, but we also think about the people of Jammu, we should treat them well, they should also feel that the National Conference government is not their enemy. We are Indians and we want to take everyone along.”
This one-of-a-kind event in the entire Kashmir Valley drew large crowds, including dignitaries, government officials, and officers from the local administration, all of whom joined the festivities in a spirit of unity, KPSS said.
The KPSS also extended its deepest gratitude to Puneet Balan and the Puneet Balan Group for their generous support in making this event a grand success for the second consecutive year.
Building on the resounding success of last year’s Dussehra celebration, this year’s festival further strengthened the message of communal harmony.
Last year, the event saw a similar turnout, with people from all communities gathering to celebrate the age-old traditions that bind Kashmir’s social fabric.