Touseef Wani

Bandipora, May 15 (KNC): A wave of faith and emotion filled the historic Nand Kishore Temple in Sumbal Sonawari as Kashmiri Pandits returned to participate in the annual Sumbli Mawas festival after a gap of several decades.

The two-day religious congregation began on Thursday, drawing devotees from Jammu and various other regions to the temple for celebrations scheduled on May 15 and 16.

Several members of the community became emotional while revisiting their native area and recalling memories associated with Sumbal and adjoining villages where they had spent their childhood before migration from the Valley.

Participants described the occasion as deeply meaningful, saying the return to the temple after nearly 36 years revived their cultural and spiritual connection with their ancestral roots and traditions.

Devotees also lauded the local administration and police for making proper security and logistical arrangements to ensure the smooth conduct of the festival. (KNC)