• This photo feature tells you of the journey by the Save Sharda Committee to revive the Sharda Yatra to PoJK.

Sharda – the basic seat of learning for Hindus is the oldest civilization and was once the part of Sharda desh and also Adi Shankracharya’s seat. We are struggling for re-opening of Sharda Pilgrimage in PoK that was last held in 1948 by our Guru Swami Nand Lal ji - a Kashmiri saint. It was from this peeth that Sanatana was reborn after Adi Shankracharya’s debates with Buddhist monks, when Buddhism had overshadowed Santana particularly from 273 BC King Ashoka to 750 AD King Lalitaditya’s period. 

We have LoC permit in force for travel across LoC that is meant for J&K residents. This LoC permit was formulated by MEA after Vajpayee – Gen. Musharaf summit and is in force since 2007. We have taken up the matter with GOI for bringing an amendment in LoC permit rules by way of addendum to include annual pilgrimage to Sharda Peeth on the lines of Sikh pilgrimage to Nankana sahib in Lahore that is held annually and now the Kartarpur yatra. We at Save Sharda Committee are pressing for cross LoC Heritage & Religious tourism that should bring people closer. People of PoK should also be allowed pilgrimage to our part of Kashmir in J&K state. The batches could be 3-5 pilgrims only.

Recently we had written and hailed judgement on Katas Raj temple in Punjab by SC of Pakistan and we have written to SC of AJK as well for passing a similar judgement on Sharda Peeth too. We have got a positive reply from SC of AJK in this regard. The landmark judgement was received by the Head of the Committee in New Delhi in January’2018. 

We have raised a civil society of about 150 members across LoC in PoK that is working in tandem with us. Now that for the first time since partition flowers have been laid by civil society of POK in Nov ‘2016 and later in March ‘2017, a photograph of Sharda Devi was installed inside temple - first time in the last 72 years. Sindoor (Vermillion) was applied inside peeth in October 2020 by a group led by Mohammed Rayees. A portrait of Swami Nand Lal and Sharda Mata was installed inside Sharda Peeth on 10 September 2021 by civil society members across LoC led by Tanveer Ahmad. 

An order by DG Archaeology & Tourism PoK Govt. in favour of Save Sharda committee for maintaining sanctity of the Peeth in December 2018 has added to the depth of the mission. Nearly 53 minorities shrines in 10 districts of PoK have also been brought under the aegis of Deptt of Archaeology there vide Order dated 29.06.2019.

The visit of Dr. Ramesh Vankwani with a delegation of 5 Pakistani Hindu Council members on 24 June 2019 to Sharda Peeth was also historical & in consultations with Save Sharda committee. But Pakistani Govt. upon submission of report by Dr. Vankwani took a decision to allow only Pakistani Hindus to visit Sharda Peeth. Then in a coordinated move ‘Save Sharda Committee’ sent a Hong kong based couple Venkataraman and Sujata, who performed Puja near Sharda in Village Pateeka on the banks of river Kishenganga on 4th October 2019. It was the first ever puja since 1948 in Sharda Land. 

A large section of the civil society in PoK have expressed their desire and support our cause. As per LoC permit rules only relatives living across LoC are allowed to travel on special occasions via Uri-Muzaffarabad and Poonch- Rawalkote routes. Thus a common J&K resident feels discriminated as those who do not have relatives living on either side of LoC cannot go to either side. This deprived section not includes J&K Hindus alone, but Muslims, Sikhs, Buddhists and others as well.

All Shankracharya followers are keen for restoration of Sharda Peeth to its pristine glory. The recent opening of Kartarpur corridor has added a new dimension to the issue & rekindled hopes for early reopening of Sharda Peeth. The Head of Save Sharda committee visited Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan on 24th November 2019 and presented a memorandum to the Sikh Prabandhak Committee for reopening of Sharda on similar lines. Prime Minister Mr. Modi has time and again emphasised for People to People contact for such issues.

Nowhere, in the world has any major religious site been closed in any conflict zone as Sharda. Prayers in Al Aksa mosque in Jerusalem or Dura Europos Church in Syria have never stopped for a day.

Question. No: 1128 on 20 Dec’2018 in Rajya Sabha on Sharda reopening is on record. The treaty between two nations can be reviewed and annual pilgrimages initially on LoC permit for J&K residents and an addendum be made to the present rules for cross LoC religious & Heritage tourism. Later devotees from all over the country can undertake this pilgrimage.

Recently SSCK organised Sharda Puja right on LoC at Keran on banks of Kishenganga River on eve of Sharda Divas August’2020. Civil society members across LoC applied vermillion (sindoor) at Sharda Peeth this Navratri in November – again first time in last years. 

The soil Shilas got from POK were also used in the foundation stone laying at Ram Mandir in Ayodhya by Prime Minister this year. Recent Puja at LoC Keran on 26 August 2019 on river Kishenganga and now at LoC Teetwal on 14 September 2021 has added new dimension to the mission, where civil societies on both sides of LoC greeted each other, first time in last 72 years.

Construction of Sharda Yatra Temple at LoC Teetwal that was inaugurated by Hon’ble Home Minister and Hon’ble PM’s mention in Mann ki baat have augmented efforts of civil society on both sides of LoC.

We recently reclaimed a 1947 historic site at LOC Teetwal Kashmir that used to be a base camp for Sharda Yatra comprising of a Dharamshala & a small gurudwara and have rebuild the same. Bhumi Pujan for same organized on 2nd. December 2021 at site. The temple was inaugurated on 22 March’2023 by Honorable Home Minister & Hon’ble LG via Live streaming. The Sikh Gurudwara was thrown open on 30 April 2023. 

It forms a great North- South connect and nearly 10000pilgrims visited Sharda temple Teetwal in the year 2024. The pratima was consecrated by HH. Sri Sri Vidhushekhrara Bharti on 05 June 2023.

A symbolic Charri Mubarak yatra is taken out by us at LoC Teetwal up to last crossing point, every year on Sharda Ashtami.

The reopening of Sharda Yatra will be a big CBM between the countries, for which the civil societies on both sides of LOC are working hard - a way forward.

This Civil society movement in a conflict zone deserves appreciation.

Author is Head / Founder, Save Sharda Committee Kashmir (Regd.)

Our website for visiting Sharda yatra temple at LoC Teetwal is: https://shardakashmir.com/   Sharing some pictures.

Also read Yatra to Sharda Temple in Titwal