KUPWARA: Sharda Yatra Temple Committee under the aegis of Save Sharda Committee, Kashmir started construction work of ancient Sharda temple and centre at LoC Teetwal in Kashmir today.
A puja was held at the construction site in which Kashmiri Hindus from various parts of country took part. A large number of Sikhs and locals too joined the event.
After reclamation of this ancient heritage site destroyed in 1947, the Dharmashala and a small Gurudwara would form the base camp of Sharda Yatra. A Charri Mubarak would be taken out from here to Sharda that would cross across to Chilhana village, now in PoK.
Earlier the Committee had performed Bhumi Pujan on December 2 last year after demarcation of plot of approx one kanal in size.
“We demand that Sharda Peeth should be opened for pilgrimage on the lines of Kartarpur in our greater Sharda Mission” said Ravinder Pandita, Head and Founder of the Committee. This base camp at Teetwal will be reclaiming of one of our traditional routes to Sharda Peeth yatra and would invite religious tourism throughout globe. Local Committee members Khawaja Iftikhar Ahmed, (Retd). Capt. Ilyas, Joginder Singh, Ajaz Khan , Surinder Mirza, S K Kul were also present on this occasion. They said that this revival of Sharda temple with this base camp will be a big CBM.
Mohan Krishan Mongha, an ardent follower graced the occasion with rendition of Sharda hymns and traditional Puja.
Later the Committee started Kar Seva by starting excavation work of site. The Puja water was later immersed at LoC bridge at the dividing white line, that is manned equally by Indian Army and Pak Army. The Committee complimented the Indian army & local media and the Sikh Sangat that had come from far off Tribhovani village in Tangdhar.
The temple plan and model is already approved by Sringeri South Mutt and the artwork granite stones are being carved at Bidadi, Karnataka to be used in this temple.
