Srinagar, 05 March (KNS): The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference General Secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar on Friday termed the Heraath Festival as a hallmark of syncretic culture of Kashmir and impressed upon the administration to ensure all basic and effective amenities to the Kashmiri pundit community on the festive occasion.

As per the statement issued to news agency-kashmir news service(KNS). Heerath, Sagar said, is a part and parcel of Kashmiri’s pluralistic culture. He said the day has been celebrated since time immemorial with utmost fervor and devotion.  He said despite the conflict taking a toll on peace and normalcy has not been able to override the festival which has been the symbol of our longstanding brotherhood.

Being the most important festival of our Kashmir Pundit brethren, Sagar said it was imperative on the government to ensure that the community is able to celebrate it with traditional gaiety.“Walnuts, Fish, and Nadru are central to the festival. Therefore divisional administration of Jammu and Kashmir should establish fair price shops for the purchase of fish and walnuts across J&K.  Mobile fish vans and stalls should be installed at various places to ensure that the basic chuck of the festival is available to the community and at much cheaper rates.  In addition to that the administration should ensure adequate supply of water and electricity at all major Astapans across Jammu and Kashmir so that the visiting devotees don’t face any problems,’ he said.

Meanwhile party Provincial Presidents Nasir Aslam Wani and Devender Singh Rana; Additional General Secretary, District presidents have also urged the administration to provide all essentials to the pundit community following the Heerath Celebration. They also urged the administration to provide adequate basic civic amenities to devotees at all Astapans, and temples across Jammu and Kashmir.(KNS)