LoC villagers hold religious congregation

Rajouri, May 18: In a display of faith and gratitude, villagers near a Line of Control (LoC) village in Rajouri district, organised a special religious congregation, including a Sunderkand Path and Yag, at the ancient Shiv Temple.

The village came under heavy artillery shelling from Pakistan from May 7 to 10, resulting in damage to houses and structures.

Miraculously, no lives were lost, and the villagers attribute this to the blessings of Almighty and Lord Shiva, believing that the ancient temple protected them. The congregation aimed to offer special prayers for peace and pay tribute to the departed souls of those killed including civilians and armed forces personnel.

Local citizen Jaswant Raj Sharma said, “We are grateful for the divine intervention that saved our lives. The ancient Shiv Temple has been a beacon of hope for us, and we are organising this congregation to express our gratitude.” The congregation aims to offer special prayers for peace and pay tribute to the departed souls of martyrs, including civil martyrs and armed forces personnel.

Ram Kumar Sharma, a village elder, said, “This event is a testament to our community’s resilience and faith. We pray for peace and prosperity, not just for our village but for the entire region.” Jaswant Rajs aid , “The shelling was intense, but we were spared due to the temple’s blessings. We are organising this event to promote peace and harmony in our community.”