India is the world’s largest, oldest, and wealthiest civilization. PM Modi has laid the foundations for a glorious Hindu future. As per reports, there are about 1,843 Hindu places of worship in Kashmir.
The Raghunath Temple dedicated to Lord Ram was constructed by Maharaja Gulab Singh 1835, the founder of the kingdom of Jammu and Kashmir. The temple has a historical significance with multiple temples surrounding the main temple and multiple gods and goddesses, all connected with the times of epic Ramayana. This temple is humungous in size and has the rare distinction of being one of the largest temples in Northern India. The horizon of Jammu is often ornamented by the heartwarming sight of the beautiful “shikhars” of this temple.
Being one of the most prominent temples and places of worship, this temple has been a victim of a few terrorist attacks. The first attack occurred in March 2002 wherein, the terrorists killed many worshippers and a suicide bomber also injured many within the temple premises. The second attack took place in November’2002, when two suicide bombers stormed the temple and killed fourteen devotees and injured 45 others.
The temple remained closed for about three decades. No puja was held after the majority of members of the Kashmiri pandit migrated from here to other parts of the country in the early 90s following the eruption of militancy.
Temple rejuvenation in Jammu and Kashmir is one of the projects taken up by the Modi government. Following the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir in 2019, the Modi Government took up the renovation as a measure to build confidence among the displaced Kashmiri Hindus so that they could return to their homeland. A year after the effective abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A and the administrative reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir, the government has decided to restore the lost glory of the centuries-old heritage shrine- Raghunath Temple situated near Fateh Kadal in the heart of Srinagar city. The Modi administration has brought back the idea of resettling Pandits in Kashmir to win over the Pandits there.
The Smart City Scheme provides funding for the restoration project, which is overseen by the tourist department. By the end of this year, the anticipated Rs 54 lakh worth of restoration work should be finished. The ancient temple will be opened to worshipers shortly following renovations. In addition to the Temple, as part of the Smart City Project, the government has restored an Imambada in Hasanabad, Srinagar, a Gurdwara at HMT Zainakot, and a Church in Drugjan.
Lord Bhairavnath’s birthday was celebrated with a havan and a huge puja, as terror activities had decreased following the abrogation of 370. For the occasion, almost 150 individuals were invited. It was stated that the locals, civil administration, and police gave the havan their whole backing.
Furthermore, given that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is allegedly eager to reopen 50,000 temples in the Kashmir Valley, it is crucial to assess the significance of the area’s cultural capital and how it contributes to the development of a cohesive civilian identity. The decision to restore temples must take into mind the possible dilution of cultural places that express a Kashmiri identity and the potential for it to further alienate the people India wishes to assimilate, especially given the rising alienation of the civilian population in Kashmir.
BJP is all set to make Jammu and Kashmir a hub of religious tourism. The Party has chalked out a plan with the government to carry out restoration work of temples. 31 mega-cultural programs have also been organized by identifying the places of 75 religious and Sufi saints. Moreover, a total of 20 cultural festivals have also been organized here in every district which will help a lot in reviving our old heritage. The Modi government set up a committee in 2019 to conduct an extensive survey of closed schools and temples in the Kashmir valley, to restore and re-open them in due time. The Amrit Kaal attempts to renovate a total of 15 temples and around 123 sites in Jammu and Kashmir and connect it to Bharat’s larger economy.
With the efforts of our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the abrogation of 370 was successful which helped in establishing peace in Kashmir and has taken the valley as well as Jammu back to its old traditions and culture. J&K has taken initiatives in all sectors towards social and economic changes.
Author : Sanjana Sinha
Author Description : Sanjana Sinha is an Impact Fellow with Global Governance Initiative (GGI). She is currently working at the Dalit Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DICCI) and Dalit Adivasi Professors and Scholars Association (DAPSA) as the Youth Head. Her areas of interest include Policy Development and Research. She has actively been involved with NCPCR, NCW and with G20 Secretariat
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