On the evening of October 21, 2025, the Kashmir Valley shimmered with the warm glow of Diwali lamps, but this year’s celebrations carried a resonance far deeper than mere festivity. From the historic Martand Sun Temple in Mattan, Anantnag, to the Sharda Yatra temple and Guru Teg Bahadur Gurudwara perched at the very tip of north Kashmir along the Line of Control (LoC) in Teetwal, communities came together in remarkable displays of unity and hope.
At the Martand Sun Temple, also known as Surya Mandir, Kashmiri Pandits gathered to observe Diwali in a tradition that stretches back generations. According to Zee News, the temple complex and its surrounding grounds were transformed into a vibrant spectacle, illuminated by countless diyas and lights. But what truly set this year apart was the presence of local Muslims, who joined their Pandit neighbors in the celebrations. This gesture, simple yet profound, was a testament to the enduring spirit of brotherhood that has defined the region for centuries, even through periods of deep strife.
Residents of Anantnag, regardless of faith, participated enthusiastically—exchanging sweets, greetings, and laughter. The Martand Tirath Trust, which oversees the temple, emphasized the site’s special significance: it is believed to mark the birthplace of the Sun, making Diwali celebrations here particularly auspicious. The main Lakshmi Puja was performed on the sacred Amavasya tithi, with rituals and the lighting of diyas continuing late into the night. As the temple’s ancient stones glowed under the flicker of oil lamps, the atmosphere brimmed with a sense of togetherness and renewal.
This year’s Diwali at Martand was not just about ritual or nostalgia. It became a symbolic expression of hope—a yearning for the return of pre-1990s normalcy and harmony in Kashmir. For many, the festival was a gentle yet powerful reminder of a time when communal bonds ran deep, unshaken by the turbulence that later swept through the valley. The joint participation of Muslims and Pandits, as reported by Zee News, has become an annual hallmark at the temple, reinforcing the belief that the valley’s famed spirit of coexistence is not a relic of the past, but a living, breathing reality.
Meanwhile, in the last village of India at the northern tip—right on the LoC in Teetwal—a different, equally poignant Diwali unfolded. The Sharda Yatra temple and the Guru Teg Bahadur Gurudwara, both recently reconstructed, became the focal points of celebration for Kashmiri Pandits, local residents, and Indian Army jawans. According to a press release cited by Greater Kashmir, the event was led by Coordinator Ajaz Khan and described as “as historical as Diwali in Ayodhya.”
The story of these sacred sites is inseparable from Kashmir’s own turbulent history. Before the tribal raids of 1947, a dharamshala and a Sikh gurdwara stood on this very plot. Both were destroyed in the violence that swept through the region during the partition era. For decades, the ruins stood as silent witnesses to loss and displacement. But in 2021, the Save Sharda Committee took decisive action, reclaiming the site and spearheading the reconstruction of both the Sharda temple and the Sikh Gurudwara. Their efforts, as articulated in the press release, have restored not just buildings, but a sense of spiritual continuity and hope for the future.
On Diwali night, the newly rebuilt temple and gurudwara were aglow with candles and oil lamps. Kashmiri Pandits, locals, and army personnel came together to light diyas, share sweets, and offer prayers. Ravinder Pandita, a prominent voice in the Save Sharda movement, conveyed Diwali greetings to Sharda followers worldwide, underscoring the event’s global resonance for the diaspora. The celebrations at Teetwal, set against the dramatic backdrop of the LoC, were imbued with an air of triumph and resilience—a reclaiming of heritage and faith in a place once marked by destruction.
What’s striking about both the Martand and Teetwal celebrations is the shared thread of communal harmony running through them. In Mattan, the joint festivities of Muslims and Pandits echoed the valley’s composite culture, a tapestry woven with threads of mutual respect and shared history. In Teetwal, the collaboration between different communities and the Indian Army highlighted a collective commitment to peace and cultural revival.
The symbolism of these events is hard to overstate. For Kashmiri Pandits, Diwali is not just a festival of lights but a reaffirmation of identity and belonging—a chance to reconnect with roots that, for many, have been severed by decades of migration and conflict. For local Muslims, joining in the celebrations is an act of solidarity and friendship, a bridge across the divides that have too often characterized the valley’s recent past.
According to the Save Sharda Committee, the act of reconstructing the temple and gurudwara in Teetwal was about more than bricks and mortar. It was about reclaiming a shared heritage and sending a message: that the forces of division and destruction can be overcome by collective will. The committee’s statement drew a direct line from the devastation of 1947 to the hope embodied in today’s celebrations, framing the reconstruction as a “lead” taken by the community to restore what was lost and to inspire future generations.
Back in Mattan, the Martand Sun Temple’s Diwali celebration was, in many ways, a microcosm of the valley’s aspirations. The exchange of sweets and greetings, the lighting of lamps, and the joint prayers all spoke to a desire for healing and normalcy. The Martand Tirath Trust’s assertion that the temple marks the birthplace of the Sun added a layer of cosmic significance to the festivities, as if the valley itself was seeking a new dawn after years of darkness.
Of course, the road to lasting peace and reconciliation in Kashmir remains long and fraught with challenges. But for one night, at least, the valley’s ancient temples and gurudwaras became beacons of hope, shining light not just on stone and earth, but on the hearts of those who gathered there. The participation of the Indian Army at Teetwal, the leadership of community coordinators like Ajaz Khan, and the tireless advocacy of groups like the Save Sharda Committee all point to a growing momentum for cultural revival and communal harmony.
As the last lamps flickered out and the night drew to a close, what lingered in the air was not just the scent of incense and sweets, but a sense of possibility. In the words of Ravinder Pandita, the greetings sent out to Sharda followers everywhere were more than just ritual—they were a call to remember, to rebuild, and to hope. For a region so often in the headlines for conflict, this Diwali offered a rare and precious glimpse of what unity and resilience can look like, when communities choose to come together and light the darkness, one lamp at a time.