Jahangeer Ganaie

Amity: Muslim man takes care of 100 year old temple in Shopian

Amity: Muslim man takes care of 100 year old temple in Shopian
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Shopian: In a rare exhibition of brotherhood and harmony, a 45 year old Muslim man is South Kashmir’s Shopian district looks after a 100 year old ‘Teerath Raj Kapal Mochan’ temple.
Ghulam Qadir Sheikh of Digam Nagbal spends most of his time in cleaning this temple located in Devpora Nagbal Shopian on the banks of Ranbiara.
“After Kashmiri pandits left valley in 90’s there was none to take care of this temple and in 2008 I voluntarily decided to clean this temple. 12 years have passed since then and I continue to take care of this temple and wait for the day when its real owners come back to reclaim it,” he said.
“I am a Muslim and religiously offer prayers five times a day. Likewise, I also come here every day to clean this place and light the candles and incense sticks,” he said.
“I understand that no pundits are putting up here, but sometimes they pay a visit to this temple and offer their gratitude towards me for maintaining this place,” said Ghulam Qadir.
“My religion also tells me to respect and honour other religion and this includes honouring their religious places as well,” He says, adding that he honours the temple as he does a mosque where he prays five times a day.
“I have been maintaining this temple from the last 12 years. It feels good as it gives me peace of mind,” says a beaming Ghulam Qadir.
“I am here to ensure its protection and upkeep even if our Pundit brothers are living outside the state for the past three decades,” he added.
Notably, the temple was renovated by the Tourism Department and even a building was constructed by the department for the pundit community in case someone travels here and needs accommodation to stay here. I was appointed as a casual labour here for the protection of the building as well as temple. I used to get a salary for this purpose but after just two months the remuneration offered to me was stopped,” said Ghulam Qadir.
However, his dedication did not stop him from coming to the temple and maintaining it at all costs, said a local, wishing not to be named.
“This is real Kashmiriyat and we as a community are seeking no compensation or recognition for the same,” he added.
According to the locals, pundits most of whom now live outside the valley, occasionally come to visit the temple to worship here.
“They return back happily and satisfied because their place of worship is maintained meticulously by Ghulam Qadir,” said a local youth, Ajaz Ahmad.
He said that some domestic and foreign tourists also visit the site quite often because this temple is famous for its elegant architecture.


Jahangeer Ganaie

Jahangeer Ganaie is a reporter and covers regional news and can be contacted [email protected]

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