From the Editor’s Desk: Memory, Nostalgia and Renewal

Tulmul is not just a place; it is an emotion, a living memory woven into the fabric of every Kashmiri Pandit heart. Like the taste of monjh haakh or the comfort of dum aloo, it is grander, richer and deeper in meaning. Each mention of Zyeth Asthami, each whisper of Kheer Bhawani, is a gentle tug back to the Kashmir of our childhood, the laughter echoing in temple courtyards, the sacred chill of the bowli, the chorus of leelas at dawn.

Tulmul: The Sacred Tapestry of Belonging

I remember, as if it were yesterday, the anticipation that filled our home on the eve of our pilgrimage to Tulmul. The minibus would arrive before sunrise and we, children and adults alike, would pile in, our voices rising in song, invoking the blessings of the goddess. The temple grounds would greet us like an old friend, arms wide open, every inch alive with devotion and the warmth of familiar faces. In the bowli, the icy water would jolt us awake, a baptism into the day’s sacredness. Guruji’s prayers would echo through the air and as he dropped the kand into the milky nag, time itself seemed to pause.

We were one: with the goddess, with each other, with the land that shaped us.

After prayers, prasad in hand, we would scatter, children’s laughter mingling with the fragrance of looochi and halwa, our hearts and bellies equally full. As the sun set, we would journey home, tired but content, carrying with us the golden afterglow of belonging.

London’s Tulmul: Nostalgia Rekindled

Years have passed and the landscape of our lives has shifted. Yet, every year, the Tulmul hawan in London becomes a bridge across continents and decades. It is not merely a ritual; it is a revival. The sacred fire, the chanting, the taste of prasad: all conjure the magic of those golden days in Kashmir. Here, in the heart of London, our children witness a piece of our childhood, a living thread of heritage handed down with love and reverence.

This year, on June 29^th, the Tulmul hawan will once again gather us: old friends, distant relatives, new faces, all drawn by the same longing for connection and continuity. The organisers and volunteers, with their dedication, do more than host an event; they keep the nostalgia alive, transporting us back to the sacred grounds of Tulmul, if only for a day.

Hawan: The Eternal Flame of Community

The hawan is more than a ritual offering; it is a collective act of remembrance, gratitude and hope. The flames rise, carrying our prayers skyward and in their glow, we find each other. We share stories, laughter and the quiet comfort of community. Each year’s hawan is a new chapter in our shared story, brimming with memories old and new, captured in photographs and in the hearts of all who attend.

A Living Legacy

As I compile these memories, I am reminded that Tulmul is not just a place or a festival. It is a living legacy, a reminder of where we come from and a promise to those who come after us. The Tulmul hawan in London is a testament to our resilience and our love for the traditions that shaped us. It is a celebration of roots that run deep and of branches that reach ever outward, carrying our story forward.

So, as we gather this June, let us remember:

Tulmul lives in us. In every prayer, every shared meal, every echo of laughter, we keep the sacred connection alive: for ourselves, for our children and for the generations yet to come.

With gratitude to all who make this possible and with hope that the memories of Tulmul shine bright in every heart, wherever we may be.

With warmth and reverence,
Team ISBUND