Mughal Road, which was temporarily closed earlier in the day due to fresh snowfall, has now been reopened for light motor vehicles (LMVs), officials said on Wednesday.

According to SSP Traffic Rural, Farooq Qaiser, the restoration of traffic is subject to fair weather conditions at Pir Ki Gali.

Vehicular movement will be strictly regulated between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM as per the existing advisory, he said.

Commuters have been advised to drive cautiously and strictly adhere to traffic guidelines while travelling on the route. (KNC)

Kashmiri Pandits have renewed their resolve to celebrate Navreh, the first day of the New Year according to the Kashmiri Hindu calendar, in the Valley from next year, terming it a symbolic step towards reconnecting with their ancestral homeland, community members said.

Navreh, which is celebrated by Kashmiri Pandits on the first day of the month of Chaitra, is traditionally dedicated to Goddess Sharika and marks the beginning of a new year in the Saptarshi calendar. The festival, which will be celebrated on March 19 this year, holds immense religious and cultural significance for the community.

“The Navreh Mahotsav is a poignant homecoming movement. The festival would be observed not only in Jammu, but in several cities across the country and abroad, reflecting widespread participation of the community,” Kashi Nath Pandita, scholar and convenor of the Navreh Mahotsav Aayojan Samiti-2026, told reporters here.

Pandita, who was awarded the Padma Shri in 2017 for his contributions in the fields of literature and education, said, “The members of the displaced community have collectively reaffirmed their resolve to return and celebrate Navreh in their ancestral birthplace in Kashmir next year.” “Navreh marks the beginning of the new year and carries deep astronomical and cultural significance. The festival traditionally begins with early morning rituals, including ‘pooja’ and ‘darshan’ of the Navreh Thali, symbolising prosperity, knowledge and continuity of life,” he said.

The second day of the celebrations, March 20, will be observed as Shaurya Divas to commemorate the valour and leadership of the 8th-century Karkota monarch of the Kashmir region, Samrat Lalitaditya.

“The concluding Mahotsav will be held at the Abhinav Theatre here, featuring cultural performances, intellectual discourses and tributes to historical icons,” Panditia said.

Co-convenor of Navreh Mahotsav Aayojan Samiti-2026, Brij Lal Bhat, said the festival symbolises the community’s aspiration to reconnect with its roots.

Bhat, a recipient of the Padma Shri award this year in the Unsung Heroes category, also called for incorporating the contributions of Acharya Shreya Bhat and Samrat Lalitaditya into the academic curriculum of the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education.

The chairman of the Sanjeevani Sharda Kendra (SSK) and chief spokesperson of the Navreh Mahotsav Aayojan Samiti, M K Bharat, said that according to the Hindu calendar, Amavasya and Chaitra Shukla Pratipada fall on the same day this year, resulting in the confluence of Tyag Divas and Sankalp Divas and reducing the three-day festival to two days.

Bharat also invited all sections of society to participate in the celebrations, describing the festival as a vibrant expression of cultural resurgence, bridging the past with the future.

The Navreh Mahotsav has been organised annually since 2021, and this year marks its sixth edition, Bharat said.

Celebrating the festival in exile for decades after migrating from the Valley in the early 1990s, Kashmiri Pandits have been observing the festival in Jammu and elsewhere while simultaneously expressing a desire to return to the Valley. (Agencies)

Manoj Sinha, Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, on Monday said the nation owes a profound debt to Maharaja Ranbir Singh for his visionary reforms and for laying the foundations of a vibrant and thriving Jammu and Kashmir.

He was speaking at the unveiling ceremony of the bust of Maharaja Ranbir Singh at Central Sanskrit University, Jammu Kot Bhalwal campus, which was also renamed as “Shri Maharaja Ranbir Singh Campus.”

Addressing the gathering, the Lieutenant Governor said Maharaja Ranbir Singh viewed Jammu and Kashmir as a living and vibrant entity rather than merely a geographical territory.

“Maharaja Ranbir Singh saw Jammu Kashmir as a living entity—not mere land, but a vibrant structure where culture breathed life and reforms channelled energy. For him, its soul resided not just in mountains and rivers but in intellectual and spiritual values,” Sinha said.

The Lieutenant Governor said the Dogra ruler did not simply govern Jammu and Kashmir but provided it with a new vision by strengthening its intellectual, cultural and spiritual foundations.

“Maharaja Ranbir Singh did not merely rule Jammu Kashmir; he bestowed it a new vision, restructured it, illuminated it with knowledge and adorned it with cultural abundance. He left behind a legacy rich on material, intellectual and spiritual planes,” he said.

Sinha noted that the renaming of the university campus reflects the enduring relevance of the values and consciousness that Maharaja Ranbir Singh had ignited more than a century ago.

He also urged the youth to follow the ideals of the former ruler and play a leading role in building a safer and more prosperous Jammu and Kashmir.

“Our youth must embrace his expansive and humane values and contribute to nation-building. As today’s Jammu Kashmir embodies Maharaja Ranbir Singh’s foresight, this campus must reflect his ideals,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

Emphasising the need to balance technological progress with human values, Sinha said society must aim to be technologically strong while remaining sensitive to human welfare.

He called upon young people to contribute not only to India’s development but also to global intellectual and moral advancement.

“India, driven by human welfare, remains committed to world peace and shared prosperity. The time has come for India to reclaim its place in guiding a challenge-ridden world,” he said.

Highlighting India’s ancient traditions, the Lieutenant Governor said the country’s civilisational journey combined scientific knowledge with cultural wisdom.

“Our ancient civilisation never followed a one-sided path. One hand held science while the other preserved culture. We emphasised personalities blending the intellect of Brahmagupta and the wisdom of Gautama Buddha,” he said, adding that the university campus should nurture such personalities.

The Lieutenant Governor also assured financial assistance for establishing Gurukuls, Sanskrit Pathshalas and Ved Pathshalas in the region to promote traditional learning.

Among those present on the occasion were Karan Singh, former Union Minister; Vishwamurti Shastri; Shrinivasa Varakhedi, Vice Chancellor of Central Sanskrit University; Kamal Kishor Mishra from the University of Calcutta; R. G. Murali Krishna, Registrar of Central Sanskrit University; and Satish Kumar Kapoor, Director of the university, along with faculty members, officials, prominent citizens and a large number of students.

Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, today chaired a high-level meeting to review the stock position of essential commodities and petroleum products across the Union Territory in view of the upcoming Eid al-Fitr and Navratri festivals as well as the prevailing geopolitical situation in West Asia.

The meeting was attended by Ministers Sakina Itoo and Satish Sharma, Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, senior administrative officials, Deputy Commissioners of all districts, and representatives of oil companies including Ashutosh Gupta, Executive Director of Indian Oil Corporation Limited. Officials from outside stations participated through virtual mode.

During the meeting, the Chief Minister reviewed the availability and supply of petroleum products, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and other essential commodities across Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing the officers, Omar Abdullah stressed that the administration must remain vigilant to ensure there is no artificial scarcity, hoarding or black marketing in any district. He said that while the Food and Supplies Department is performing its duties, the district administration must complement these efforts by maintaining close monitoring at the local level.

The Chief Minister directed all Deputy Commissioners to maintain strict oversight to ensure smooth supply and fair distribution of essential commodities. He emphasized that preventing hoarding and black marketing requires strong monitoring at the district level and urged officials to take the instructions seriously.

Highlighting the uncertain nature of the current international situation, Omar said the administration must stay alert for an extended period if necessary. He noted that the situation could last for days or weeks and therefore the administration should remain prepared to prevent any disruption in the supply of essential items.

The Chief Minister also directed the Information Department to regularly update the public about the stock position and availability of essential commodities to prevent rumours and panic buying. He said transparent communication would reassure people about adequate supplies and discourage those attempting to exploit the situation.

Omar Abdullah further instructed officials to closely monitor the availability of commercial LPG, especially in view of the ongoing Navratras, the upcoming Eid celebrations and the beginning of the tourist season. He asked the administration to consult stakeholders such as restaurant owners and hoteliers before making any adjustments to commercial LPG supply in view of the expected rise in tourist arrivals and festival-related demand.

Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo emphasised that Deputy Commissioners must ensure strict action against any instances of hoarding, black marketing or profiteering in their respective districts. He directed them to extend full support to the Legal Metrology Department and the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department to ensure effective enforcement.

Commissioner Secretary Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Saurabh Bhagat presented a detailed report on the stock and supply position of petroleum products and LPG in Jammu and Kashmir.

According to the presentation, despite global disruptions, the stock position of petrol, diesel and LPG in the Union Territory remains stable. Adequate reserves of these commodities are available at storage facilities and distribution points across the region.

The meeting was also informed that several regulatory measures have been implemented to ensure continuous availability and prevent misuse. The Delivery Authentication Code (DAC) system has been introduced to ensure LPG cylinders are delivered only to genuine consumers. Oil marketing companies have also launched an e-KYC verification campaign to identify inactive or duplicate LPG connections.

Regarding non-domestic LPG supplies, officials said a temporary cap of 20 percent of the average monthly consumption has been imposed while ensuring uninterrupted supply to essential institutions such as hospitals and educational establishments.

The meeting further noted that the Government of India has provided an ad-hoc allocation of 468 kilolitres of PDS Superior Kerosene Oil (SKO) for cooking and lighting purposes, mainly targeting vulnerable groups including beneficiaries of the Antyodaya Anna Yojana.