Once humming with festivities on the occasion of various Hindu festivals, the Habbakadal area of the old city on the banks of the Jhelum sans religious fervour ahead of Herath (Shivratri), that is scheduled to be celebrated on Sunday.
Thanks to the migration of a majority of Pandits from the Valley with the eruption of militancy in early 1990, the festivities have lost that grandeur and ceased to continue at the same pace.
At present, there are only 2,764 Pandits in 630 families living at 192 places across the Valley. Nearly 3 lakh Pandits migrated from the Valley with the eruption of militancy in early 1990.
There are no rows of outlets selling earthen pots, walnuts, milk vends, ‘nadru’ (lotus stem) or fish, which are much in demand on the occasion of this festival, being celebrated on the 12th day of Phalguna in the Hindu calendar, which falls during February-March.
Religious fervour missing in Habbakadal
