On November 28, 2025, a powerful call for religious and cultural reconnection echoed through the Bani Dham Gaushala Temple in Gurgaon, as Sringeri Shankaracharya H.H. Vidhushekhara Bharati Ji addressed a large gathering of Kashmiri Pandits. The revered spiritual leader’s message was unequivocal: the historic Sharda Sarvagnya Peeth in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) must be reopened, and the struggle to reclaim access to this ancient site would continue.
The Shankaracharya’s visit, which marked the conclusion of his 20-day tour of the Delhi-NCR region, was a momentous occasion for the Kashmiri Pandit community. According to KDC, it was the first such interaction between the Sringeri Shankaracharya and Kashmiri Pandits in this region, drawing together hundreds of community members for a day of prayer, reflection, and renewed determination.
During his Anugreh Vashanam—a special address to the assembled devotees—the Shankaracharya reaffirmed the community’s long-standing demand for access to the Sharda Peeth. He declared, as reported by KNS, that the “struggle will continue,” signaling both solidarity and resolve. The Sharda Peeth, once a renowned center of learning and devotion, holds immense historical, spiritual, and emotional significance for Kashmiri Hindus. Its closure, due to geopolitical divisions and decades of conflict, has left a deep sense of loss within the community.
As part of the day’s ceremonies, the Shankaracharya performed Pushp Archana—a ritual flower offering—at the site of the proposed Sharda Temple, which stands on a hillock opposite the main Banidham temple. The ritual was more than symbolic; it was a gesture of hope and a statement of intent, connecting the present-day aspirations of the community with their ancient heritage.
The spiritual leader also toured the Gaushala, a shelter housing over 1,000 cows, which is jointly managed by Banidham Gaushala and Kashmiri Pandit organizations. According to press coverage from multiple outlets, the Gaushala serves as both a center of community activity and a testament to the resilience and organizational strength of the Kashmiri Pandits, who have maintained their traditions even in the face of displacement and adversity.
Ravinder Pandita, president of the All India Kashmiri Samaj (AIKS), played a pivotal role in the day’s proceedings. In his welcome address, Pandita emphasized the urgent need for the creation of a religious corridor to Sharda Peeth, drawing a direct parallel to the Kartarpur Corridor that now allows Sikh pilgrims to visit one of their holiest shrines across the India-Pakistan border. “All the four Sharda Mutts should write to the Prime Minister for reopening of Sharda Peeth in PoK,” Pandita stated, as reported by KDC and KNS. His remarks captured the mood of the gathering: a blend of reverence, nostalgia, and pragmatic advocacy.
Pandita, along with Banidham Gaushala representatives including Pt. Keshavanand, Madan Ji, Ajay Pandita, Suneel Kachroo, and Ashwini Pandita, accompanied the Shankaracharya on a comprehensive tour of the premises. Hundreds of Kashmiri Pandits joined in, visiting the proposed temple site and participating in rituals such as lighting an oil lamp at the portrait of Sharda Peeth. These acts, though modest in scale, resonated with a much larger yearning for reconnection and restoration.
The event concluded with the ceremonial presentation of Sharda Shawls to the Shankaracharya and his followers—a gesture of respect and gratitude—followed by the distribution of prasad, a traditional offering of sanctified food. These rituals, simple yet profound, underscored the sense of unity and shared purpose among those present.
For many in attendance, the day was not just about religious observance, but about reclaiming a piece of their identity. The Sharda Peeth, located in what is now PoK, was once a beacon of learning and devotion, drawing pilgrims and scholars from across the region. Its closure after the partition and subsequent conflicts has been a source of pain and longing for generations of Kashmiri Hindus. The call to reopen the site is, in many ways, a call to heal old wounds and reestablish a vital link to the past.
The analogy to the Kartarpur Corridor is particularly poignant. That project, years in the making, required significant diplomatic engagement and a willingness on both sides to prioritize religious and cultural access over political differences. Supporters of the Sharda Peeth corridor hope for a similar breakthrough, one that would allow Hindu pilgrims to visit the site safely and freely, even amid ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan.
Of course, the path forward is fraught with challenges. The reopening of Sharda Peeth would require not just political will, but also careful negotiation, security arrangements, and cross-border cooperation—no small feat given the current state of relations between the two countries. Yet, as the day’s events in Gurgaon demonstrated, the demand for access to Sharda Peeth is not fading; if anything, it is gaining new momentum and visibility.
The involvement of all four Sharda Mutts—religious institutions with deep roots in India’s spiritual landscape—is seen as crucial in lending weight and legitimacy to the campaign. By jointly petitioning the Prime Minister, these institutions aim to bring the issue to the highest levels of government, framing it as both a matter of faith and a question of cultural rights.
For the Kashmiri Pandit community, the struggle for Sharda Peeth is emblematic of broader themes: the right to return, the preservation of heritage, and the affirmation of identity in the face of adversity. The support of religious leaders like the Sringeri Shankaracharya adds moral authority to the cause, while the practical steps advocated by community leaders—such as the proposed corridor—offer a tangible path forward.
As the sun set over Gurgaon, the sense of purpose among those present was palpable. The rituals, the speeches, and the shared meals were all reminders that, even in the face of daunting obstacles, faith and community can inspire action and hope. Whether or not the dream of reopening Sharda Peeth is realized in the near future, the events of November 28, 2025, have already strengthened the resolve of those who seek it—and reminded the world of the enduring power of cultural and spiritual ties.