The Indian state of Kashmir has had a tumultuous past and the present too doesn’t look very hopeful. The mass-scale exodus of Kashmiri pundits more than two decades ago from the state is still a painful blot in the history of the beautiful region. In the Bandipora district of Kashmir, lies an ancient Shiva temple that’s hasn’t been visited by too many devotees in the past few years, because naturally, most of the Hindus had to leave their home behind and migrate to other states.

© NDTV

Like they say, there’s always a little hope even in the darkest of times. Yesterday, the Shiva temple saw devotees offering prayers at the eve of Maha Shivaratri. And the devotees were Muslim. Kashmiri Muslims turned up at the temple, carrying placards asking Kashmiri Pandits to return to their homeland and celebrate festivals together.

© NDTV

Led by a local contractor Imtiaz Ahmad, they cleaned the temple and performed the rituals associated with Maha Shivaratri, a festival that is widely celebrated amongst Hindus, and particularly Kashmiri Pandits. NDTV reported Mr Ahmad saying, "That is why we entered the temple, cleaned it... (We did) whatever we could do since we are Muslims, not Pandits. In our humble way we performed puja here.”

Another Kashmiri Muslim who came to spread the message of communal haromony was reported saying, "They are part of our body and soul which has been snatched and separated from us. Today we are sending a message to them. Please return, we are with you."

© India.com

There is a lot of tension in the valley and chances are, there still will be. But such gestures of communal brotherhood between the people will only work to help the wounds heal faster. What will the militancy or the powers-that-be do if the people support each other unconditionally?