Chander M Bhat
Chander M. Bhat (born 20 March 1960 in Murran, South Kashmir) is a former Assistant Director Postal Services, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, in the Department of Posts, Government of India. He is the author of eighteen books on philately, history and Kashmiri culture, including How to Collect Stamps, Murran… My Village, Ocean by Drops and Ancient History of Jammu and Kashmir. A dedicated researcher on Kashmiri Pandit heritage, he has written extensively on the shrines, temples and sacred geography of Kashmir and is documenting all 661 shrines and temples across the valley in a multi volume series. His long term project OAL… THE NEST records 595 Kashmiri Pandit villages across six volumes, each exceeding 2,500 pages. Bhat has designed 138 special covers, special cancellations and other philatelic material for the Department of Posts, India, and his articles on postal history and public affairs appear in newspapers and magazines across the country. He has received two gold medals for his philatelic exhibits on Jammu and Kashmir, the Tika Lal Taploo Award for contribution to Kashmiri culture and honours including the Padam Sri Shri Moti Lal Saqi Gaurav Samman (2015), Kirti Samman (2016) and Sri Sharda Stabadi Samman (2022).
Ghar Devta (Dhayat Raza)
In every traditional Kashmiri Pandit home, a sacred presence known as
GAESH (गअश): The Revered Mother
Magam, a bustling town on the Srinagar-Gulmarg Road, carries the legac
Why Drying and Pickling Halt in a Mourning Year
In Kashmiri Pandit tradition, the year of mourning after a close relat
Daan – The Fireplace
The fireplace or kitchen stove, known as Daan in Kashmiri, was an esse
Darbha Amavisia (दर्भ मावस)
Darbha Amavasia (दर्भ मावस), observed on the new moon