05 September,2026 04:15 PM IST | Jammu and Kashmir | mid-day online correspondent
Jammu: People take part in a procession on the eve of `Janmashtami` festival, in Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir. (PIC/PTI)
In a significant moment for the Kashmiri Pandit community, a grand Shri Krishna Janmashtami procession was taken out in Kupwara district on Friday after several decades, reviving a cherished religious tradition.
The procession brought together Kashmiri Pandits from different parts of Kupwara and adjoining areas to celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna with devotion and traditional fervour.
The procession began at the Mata Kheer Bhawani Temple in Tikker and proceeded towards the Shiv Mandir in Trehgam, covering nearly seven kilometres. Men, women and children participated in large numbers, creating a vibrant spiritual atmosphere along the route.
Devotees carried religious flags and chanted devotional hymns as they made their way towards Trehgam. For the Kashmiri Pandit community, the procession marked the revival of a religious tradition that had not been held in the area for several decades.
The participation of people across generations added to the significance of the celebration, as devotees came together to observe Janmashtami and reconnect with a long-standing part of their religious and cultural traditions.
Kashmiri Pandits from various areas of Kupwara and neighbouring regions joined the procession. The gathering remained peaceful as devotees walked the nearly seven-kilometre route from Tikker to Trehgam.
The procession concluded at the Shiv Mandir in Trehgam, where the celebrations continued amid an atmosphere of devotion and faith.
SSP Kupwara Syed Al-Tahir Gilani was also present during the procession. Adequate security arrangements were made along the route to facilitate the movement of devotees and ensure the peaceful conduct of the religious event.
The procession concluded peacefully, with authorities maintaining law and order throughout the route.
The Janmashtami procession was held as devotees across India celebrated the birth of Lord Krishna with special prayers, rituals and temple gatherings.
Janmashtami, also known as Gokulashtami, commemorates the birth of Krishna, regarded in Hindu tradition as the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu. The festival is observed on the eighth day, or Ashtami, of the Krishna Paksha, the dark fortnight of the Hindu month of Bhadrapada, which generally falls in August or September.
(With inputs from ANI)
