Kumaar Mohalla, a locality in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, was abuzz with unprecedented activities this November, with kilns running throughout the day. Noor Muhammad Kumar, 54, a potter, roped in his two brothers and neighbours to meet orders for 10,000 earthen lamps from outside the State, for Deepavali. “It has been a busy month. The only time we would take breaks was during daily namaz,” he said.
Kashmir Valley has a minuscule Hindu population. However, with the growing number of jawans, migrant labourers, and Hindu families celebrating Deepavali in Kashmir this year, scores of temples, renovated across the Valley in the past four years, are set for special prayers on the occasion.
Also read | How Deepavali continues to be a festival that transcends religious barriers
