Mahashivratri, the most important religious festival of Kashmiri Pandits, is being celebrated across the Kashmir valley today.

Though a majority of Pandits migrated from the valley due to the eruption of militancy about 18-years-ago, people here continue to cherish the traditional glory associated with the annual festival.

Mahashivratri is celebrated by Kashmiri Pandits as ‘Hairath’.

The Governor, NN Vohra and several other top leaders have extended their greetings to the Pandits on the eve of Mahashivratri.

In his message, Vohra said the festival symbolizes the values of piety, devotion, brotherhood and harmony, which are the hallmark of our great composite cultural ethos. He hoped that the festival would usher in a new era of peace and prosperity in the state.

Newly appointed state CM Omar Abdullah also extended his greetings to the people on the eve of Mahashivratri. Omar said Kashmir had remained a seat of Shai’vism for centuries and the philosophy had contributed in a big way to the multicultural ethos of the valley.

Meanwhile, PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and the party president Mehbooba Mufti have greeted the people on the auspicious occasion of Mahashivratri. In their felicitation message, the PDP leaders said Mahashivratri reminded them of the age-old tradition of brotherhood and amity that overwhelmed the Kashmir valley in the good old days of peace when Kashmiri Pandits used to celebrate the festival.

In J&K, the three day Maha Shivratri festival began at Shiv Khori in Reasi district of Jammu from Sunday. Thousands of devotees visited the holy cave at Shiv Khori shrine.

The Mela was inaugurated by the Minister for Tourism and Culture Mr. Nawang Rigzin Jora. The three-day Mela is being organized by State Tourism Department, in collaboration with Shiv Khori Shrine Board.

It can be here recalled that Shiv Khori is the third holy shrine worshipped by huge number of pilgrims after Shri Amarnathji and Mata Vaishno Devi shrines.

In order to facilitate the pilgrims during the Mela days, the administration had made elaborate arrangements.