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Kashmir Maha Yagna Draws Over 500

A P Kamath in Atlanta

While over a dozen fund-raisers have been held for Kargil martyrs, the Indian community here decided to do something more. It organized a maha yagna on September 26 at Shakti Mandir.

The organizers were expecting about 200 people. There were 500, and many people had driven for more than two hours to reach the temple. The participants included the representatives of major Indian linguistic communities and the organizers said they could sense a united India during the yagna.

"The yagna had several purposes including prayers for the peaceful conditions that will help the native pandits return to Jammu and Kashmir," says Subash Razdan, a Kashmiri, chairman of the trustees for the National Federation of Indian Associations.

Razdan was one of the key people involved in a fund-raiser held here a few weeks ago. Razdan said the prayers were meant not only for the displaced Hindus and Sikhs in Jammu and Kashmiri but everyone in the state who had to bear the brunt of terrorism.

The maha yagna was organized by the local Gayatri Parivar with the participation from the local chapter of Kashmir Overseas Association. The event was also used as another fundraiser to help the families of the Indian soldiers who lost their lives in the Kargil conflict. With pledges and contributions received, the organizers expect over $ 5,000.

The maha yagna was livened up by the poetry and fervor of the presiding priest, who had been specially invited from Hardwar to conduct the ceremony. He invoked passages from the Hindu scriptures like the Bhagvad Gita to pray for the soldiers killed in Kargil.

After the maha yagna, Upendra Patel, the public relations co-ordinator for the Shakti Mandir, said Atlanta events including the maha yagna and other Kargil fund-raisers could be emulated elsewhere.

Hosts Manu Patel and Narendra Patel while offering their homage to the Indian soldiers, expressed the hope that the Havan, which symbolizes prayers, will help expedite the return of peace to Kashmir.

Speaking for the Kashmiri community in Atlanta, the two local co-ordinators, Sidharth Ganju and Ravi Raina, thanked the Indian community, the board of the Shakti Mandir and the Gayatri Parivar for organizing the event and helping to etch the plight of Kashmiri pandits in the minds of Indian Americans.

This is the second event of its kind. Last year, C L Gaddoo, a nationalist Kashmiri leader from India had presented the keynote address describing the plight of the displaced Kashmiris and the circumstances that forced them to flee their homes.

The organizers of the maha yagna believe the participants will remember the cause for which they had gathered long after the event. They could also help their friends and family members know of the continuing plight of Kashmir refugees in camps spread across India's north-western states.

"We have held musical events to raise money for the Kashmir causes," said Razdan. "That was fine. But a prayer meeting, with a havan included, is also important."

If you would like to post any information about forthcoming events or community happenings, please email the details to bettypais@aol.com

Information and photographs can also be mailed to Betty Pais at 87-52 108th Street, 2nd Floor, Richmond Hill, NY 11418-2229, USA.

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