A Kashmiri Pandit organisation has decided to observe 2016 as the year of 'Reminiscence of Culture' and announced that Bollywood actor Rahul Bhat will be the ambassador for the initiative.
"Celebrations will be held on September 19 while 2016 would be observed as the year of cultural reminiscence," President of Pir Panchal Organisation and head of Radio Sharda, Ramesh Hangloo, told reporters here today.
"The task has been given to Pir Panchal and Vemadh organisations and actor Rahul Bhat will be its international ambassador," he said.
Flanked by Rahul Bhat and theatre person Rohit Bhat, Hangloo said, "We will take up two of the major demands of Kashmiri Pandits with the Government of India: that Sharda shrine in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is declared as heritage site under UNESCO so that people from across the world may visit it."
Further, he said that a cave in Budgam district where Abhinavgupt, "one of the great scholars of Kashmir", lived in the last phase of his life should be declared a national monument.
"Abhinavgupt was one of the great scholars of Kashmir. He has excelled in spreading the knowledge of Kashmir.
"Abhinavgupt stayed in the last phase of his life in a cave in Budgam and this cave in Budgam district should be declared a national monument," Hangloo said.
