Historic Srinagar temple holds puja after decades, LG calls revival a bridge between past and future
On July 20, 2026, a ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony was conducted at the historic Vichar Nag Temple in Srinagar, an area that was once a hub of militant activity. The temple, which had fallen into disuse after the mass exodus of Kashmiri Pandits in the 1990s due to militant violence, saw scores of Pandits return for the ceremony.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha visited the temple and inspected the renovation work. In his address, he emphasised the temple's historical and cultural significance, stating that its revival acts as a bridge connecting the past, present, and future. He noted that the temple had been a centre of learning and intellectual discourse for centuries.
The ceremony included traditional rituals such as yajna and havan, with devotees participating after a long gap. The Vishwa Kashmiri Samaj (VKS), a representative body of Kashmiri Pandits, praised the efforts to restore the temple complex.
Senior officials including Deputy Inspector General Rajiv Pandey, Deputy Commissioner Akshay Labroo, and SSP Srinagar Dr. G.V. Sundeep Chakravarthy accompanied the Lieutenant Governor during his visit.
