Srinagar On the banks of the Dal Lake, an old Shiv temple is undergoing repairs and so are the generations-old ties between Kashmiri Pandits and the local Muslims. When a group of migrant Pandits arrived here to renovate this famous place of worship at Rainawari in downtown Srinagar, the local Muslims were the first to join their effort.

Thus as the people from the two communities work to renovate the historic Shiv temple, they revive a bond that has suffered a 20-year damage. "This (renovation) has been possible with the help of the local Muslims," said Maharaj Krishan Pandita, a member of the Shiv Ji Temple Welfare Association. “When we decided to renovate this temple, the local Muslims came forward and helped us.”

The Shiv Ji temple, also known as Bod Mandir (big temple), at Rainawari is being renovated with the help of local Muslims, who have offered every assistance in restoring this temple to its past glory. The temple is being renovated by the Shiv Ji Temple Welfare Association, a part of the Zestha Devi Prabhandak Committee.

Though the government has initiated a major rehabilitation scheme involving Rs 1,500 crore to attract the Pandit community back to their home, this step by the two communities in a downtown neighbourhood is going to help bridge the void, instil confidence and strengthen the government's "return to home" project. In fact, both the factions of separatist Hurriyat have been supportive of the return of Kashmiri Pandits so that the cultural mosaic of Kashmir is restored to its past glory.

As the renovation work started a month ago, the Muslim neighbours poured in with tea, tools and help. "When we came here, we had nothing," Pandita said. "The Muslim neighbours brought water and other tools from their houses. They were happy that we were renovating this temple."

For Bashir Ahmad, a resident of Rainawari, the temple is a symbol of Hindu-Muslim amity. "They have started the (renovation) work and we want to see it completed," he said. "We want to strengthen and revive the Hindu-Muslim harmony here. That is why we are trying to support this effort in every possible way."

The Shiv Ji temple was abandoned ever since Pandits migrated from Kashmir valley in 1990. This neighbourhood in downtown city was, in fact, empty after the migration especially because Pandits were a majority here. This temple was important because one of the two Shivlings brought by the Shankaracharya to the Valley was housed here. The other Shivling is housed in the Shankaracharya temple on the hills, overlooking Srinagar city.