“Today, Balhama; tomorrow, Sharada Peeth. Kashmir’s spiritual treasures belong to humanity and must be restored to their rightful place in our collective consciousness.” — Pathania.
Srinagar, October 2026: The two-day pilgrimage to the revered Shri Bala Devi Temple at Balhama, organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Kshatriya Samaj, concluded with traditional puja, havan-yagna and a reaffirmation of the resolve to preserve Kashmir’s civilisational heritage and revive its ancient spiritual connections.
Leading the yatris and participating in the traditional puja and havan proceedings, Ranbir Singh Pathania, lawyer, columnist, philanthropist and MLA from Udhampur East, & Mr. Zorawar Singh Jamwal, President of Team Jammu, described the Balhama shrine as a repository of Kashmir’s history, culture, spiritual wisdom and civilisational treasures that transcend the boundaries of geography, religion and time.
Pathania observed that Kashmir’s ancient shrines are not merely places of worship; they are living testimonies to a profound spiritual heritage whose message remains eternal, universal and relevant to every age and every section of humanity.
“The treasures of Kashmir need to be revered and respected, researched and rediscovered, preserved and showcased to the entire world. They carry messages of universal brotherhood, spiritual enlightenment and coexistence. Their significance goes far beyond their physical structures; they represent a civilisational inheritance that belongs to humanity,” he said.
Referring to the distinctive features of the Balhama shrine, Pathania drew attention to its five sacred deodar trees, traditionally associated with an ancient sacred spring, and the sacred shilas revered in connection with Tripura Sundari and the Shakta traditions reflected in Kashmir’s religious literature.
Mr Jamwal said “These are not ordinary trees, stones or structures. They are repositories of collective memory, faith and tradition. The stories associated with them, the spiritual meanings they carry and the historical truths they may preserve deserve serious study, documentation and wider recognition. Our sacred heritage must not remain unexplored or hidden from the world,” he said.
He emphasised that preserving such sites required a collective commitment to scholarship, conservation, pilgrimage and inter-community understanding.
‘Today, Balhama; Tomorrow, Sharada Peeth’
Reiterating the larger objective behind the pilgrimage, Pathania said that the initiative must be seen as part of a wider endeavour to reclaim Kashmir’s forgotten spiritual links and reconnect people with their civilisational roots.
“Today, Balhama; tomorrow, Sharada Peeth in the Neelam Valley. Our resolve is to open a permanent channel for pilgrimage to the revered Sharada Peeth in POJK and to lead a yatra there when circumstances permit. We want these sacred connections restored through peaceful, lawful and sustained efforts,” he said.
He observed that the devastation, neglect and disruption suffered by places of worship during periods of fanaticism, terrorism and fundamentalism had inflicted wounds not merely upon individual communities but upon Kashmir’s shared cultural inheritance.
“The forces of fanaticism and division have damaged sacred spaces and disrupted age-old traditions. But the answer to hatred cannot be hatred. Our response must be preservation, scholarship, pilgrimage, mutual respect and an unwavering commitment to coexistence,” Pathania said.
Muslims of Balhama: A Living Example of Coexistence
A particularly heartening aspect of the pilgrimage was the welcome extended to the yatris by local Muslim residents of Balhama. Their association with the shrine’s protection during the difficult years of terrorism was highlighted as an important example of humanity and communal coexistence.
“The people of Balhama have conveyed a message that deserves to be heard far beyond Kashmir. When people stand together to protect a place of worship, they protect the dignity of an entire civilisation.
This is the true spirit of Sarva Dharma Sambhav—respect for every faith and protection of every community’s right to preserve its sacred heritage,” he said.
Drawing a parallel with other instances of inter-community cooperation in the preservation or rediscovery of religious sites, he said that Kashmir’s history must be approached with openness, historical rigour and respect for the contributions of people across faiths.
An Eternal Indian Tradition of Coexistence
Pathania situated the message of the pilgrimage within India’s long philosophical tradition of spiritual pluralism and mutual coexistence, referring to the wisdom of the Vedas and Puranas, the historical legacy associated with Emperor Ashoka, the ideals embodied in the Ramayana, and the interfaith intellectual engagements associated with Emperor Akbar and Dara Shikoh.
He said that the finest traditions of Indian civilisation had repeatedly encouraged dialogue, ethical conduct, respect for different paths and the search for a higher universal truth.
“The message of coexistence is not an expedient slogan. It is rooted in our civilisational inheritance. The protection of one community’s shrine by members of another community is not a concession; it is an expression of our shared humanity. Balhama offers an opportunity to celebrate and strengthen that spirit,” he observed.
Participation and Appreciation
The concluding religious proceedings were attended by senior police and administrative officers, representatives of the Dharmarth Trust, community leaders and a large number of local residents and yatris.
Those present included Mr. Purshotam Pathania, President of the Jammu and Kashmir Dharmarth Trust; Sheikh Ajaz, DDC Khanmoh, Sewa Singh Mankotia, SP (Retd). They appreciated the initiative undertaken by the Kshatriya Samaj to reconnect the community with its sacred heritage and promote the preservation of Kashmir’s religious and cultural landmarks.
The organising team included Samar Singh Rana, Secretary Sheikh Singh, Ban Kotia, Yashpal Manhas, Surjit Singh, Sarpanch Vikram Singh, Sarpanch Himmat Singh Sarpanch ,Deep Singh, Sukhdev Singh, Shubham Sharma, Purshotam Singh, Chain Dehati, Bharat Chand, Anmol Bandral, Ravinder, Avinash, Gurdev, Lochan Singh, and Mangat Ram, alongside a large gathering of local residents and community members.
The two-day yatra concluded with a renewed pledge to preserve Kashmir’s spiritual heritage, strengthen inter-community harmony and continue peaceful efforts towards facilitating pilgrimage to Sharada Peeth.
“Our mission is not merely to revisit sacred places; it is to rediscover the wisdom they embody, protect the heritage they represent and carry their universal message to future generations. Balhama is a beginning. Sharada Peeth remains our resolve.”
