Herath Maha Shivratri in Kashmir reflects faith, unity, shared traditions, spiritual values, rituals, walnuts, and timeless communal harmony between Kashmiri Pandits and Muslims.
February 15, Srinagar: Herath, also known as Herath Maha Shivratri, is the most significant socio-religious festival of the Kashmiri Pandit community. The festival holds deep spiritual and cultural importance and has traditionally been celebrated with devotion, enthusiasm, and joy across Kashmir and by Kashmiri communities throughout India.
The central ritual of Herath involves the worship of Vatuk Nath (Bhairava) along with the goddess, who together represent the household deities. Walnuts play a vital role in the rituals and are offered during prayers before being distributed as Prasad, symbolizing prosperity, goodwill, and blessings.
Spiritually, Herath is regarded as a period of soul purification, spiritual upliftment, and moral enrichment. It marks the Great Night dedicated to overcoming darkness and ignorance and attaining inner enlightenment, and is observed on the first day of the waning half of the lunar month of Phalguna as per the Hindu calendar.
Beyond its religious significance, Herath has long symbolized communal harmony and shared cultural values in Kashmir. Members of the Muslim community fondly recall that the festival was embraced by people of all faiths, with Muslim families actively participating in celebrations and sharing the joy with their Pandit neighbours.
Traditionally, Kashmiri Pandits invited Muslim friends to their homes, serving the special Herath dish, Nadur ti Gaad, while walnuts were exchanged and distributed from house to house across the Valley as part of the festive ritual.
Herath Puja would continue for nearly fifteen days, known as Watuk Puja, during which prayers and rituals were performed with devotion. The festival remains a powerful reminder of Kashmir's composite culture, representing unity, brotherhood, and shared heritage.
