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Reshi Bazar in Anantnag town illustrates the communal harmony in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, where a mosque and a temple share the same entrance.
With a large section of the population being Muslim, Reshi Bazar, where everyone in the vicinity knows your name and greets you with a smile, is a gem of Anantnag for all its people.
Baba Dawood Khaki and Devibal Mandir share the same path where people from both sects share their culture. The path through which Muslims and Hindus enter their respective holy places has remained the same for decades.
A local Mohmmad Hussain said, “We use the same path for entering mosques or temples. I have many good memories from playing with my Hindu brothers and sharing our culture without any religious conflict”.
While we offered namaz in the mosque and they worshipped in their temple, we did not disturb each other’s feelings.”, he added.
According to the records, the mosque’s first stone was laid by Hazrat Amer-e-Kabir Mir Syed Ali Hamadani (R.A.) in 990 AH, a Persian Sufi saint of the Kubrawiya order, who spread the teachings of Islam in Kashmir. Later its second floor was built by Hazrat Baba Dawood Khaki in 1359 AH.
“This is the Qibla Awal meaning it is the first mosque in the Anantnag town”, said Ghulam Hassan President of that mosque.
Beside the mosque, Ghulam Hassan also looks after the Hindu Temple. He said, Love, respect, and brotherhood are taught in every religion in this world and it’s our duty to look after each other.
According to locals, the Devibal temple was built around a few 100 years ago. It is also known as Pracheen and the temple of Sharika Devi.
A local Hindu devotee Anand Pandit said, “I come here freely and all the faces are familiar here whom with I have grown up and they are like my brothers everyone knows me here and respects me”.
“In the past, local Muslims have helped us renovate the Temple when its condition weakened”, he added.
At the back of the temple is a shrine dedicated to Hazrat Baba Hyder Reshi (Reshmoul) and a few meters away is a gurudwara dedicated to Shiri Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
Hazrat Baba Hyder Sahib is a shrine with traditional Kashmiri architecture and a place of pilgrimage for Kashmiris of all faiths. This beautiful monument has become more popular among visitors who are seeking blessings and peace.
Some people believe that buying prayers here is still the best way to get your blessings. The shrine is also an example of communal harmony where People from all the sects come and visit here for their blessing.
“Most of us bring food here to feed the needy, we don’t differentiate among religious sects. The food is for all from whatsoever religion he is from”, said Amir Reshi.
Gurudwara Guru Nanak Dev JI Anantnag shrine was sanctified by Guru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj during his third depression in 1517 AD by his foot touch.
During their daily journey to Gurudwara, Sikhs pass through the mosque and temple on their way to the Gurudwara.
“It may be the only place in the world where all these religious places can be found next to each other, just as they teach us to be standing next to one another no matter what may come our way”, said Imran local shopkeeper.
The location, atmosphere, and serenity of this place capture the true essence of communal harmony, if you have time, you can try to visit different places in this city and see for yourself why this place is full of surprises.
