Kupwara administration oversees arrangements as Pandit families return to Lolab after decades

A return after 35 years, carrying memory, faith, and shared bonds

Jahangir Lolabi

Kupwara, May 01: The Deputy Commissioner Kupwara on Friday visited Sogam in Lolab Valley to review arrangements as members of the Kashmiri Pandit fraternity returned to the area after nearly 35 years to perform religious rituals on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi.

During the visit, the Deputy Commissioner, accompanied by the SDM Lolab, Tehsildar Sogam, BDO Sogam and other officials, issued on-spot directions to improve basic infrastructure at the temple site. He, as per Alfaaz – The Words, instructed the concerned departments to install solar lighting and ensure proper bathroom and drainage facilities to facilitate visiting devotees. He also assured continued administrative support and necessary assistance for future visits.

The return of Pandit families to their ancestral village after roughly thirty-five years marked a significant and emotional moment. Many among them were revisiting their homeland after decades, offering prayers at places deeply tied to personal memory, faith and identity. The occasion carried a sense of quiet reflection as well as longing for continuity with the past.

Local residents from the Muslim fraternity of Sogam and adjoining areas extended support to the visiting families. They facilitated the arrangements and remained present throughout the programme, reflecting a shared social bond that has endured despite years of separation.

Eyewitnesses reported emotional scenes as elderly residents and women joined the gathering, recalling earlier times of coexistence. Several locals expressed a sense of incompleteness due to the prolonged absence of their Pandit neighbours and voiced hope for renewed connections.

Following the rituals, prasad was distributed among participants, marking the occasion with a gesture of shared participation and mutual respect.

Members of the visiting Pandit fraternity expressed gratitude to the District Administration Kupwara, police and the Army for coordinated arrangements that ensured the smooth conduct of the programme.

They also urged the government to prioritise restoration and maintenance of temples, dharamshalas and cremation grounds in the area. They said improved infrastructure and preservation of such sites would facilitate future visits and help safeguard their cultural and religious heritage.