(Kashmir Rechords Exclusive)
In the quiet village of Kakran in Kulgam district of Kashmir, surrounded by fields and orchards, stands the ancient Katyayani Temple. For centuries, Kashmiri Hindus have come here to bow before Mata Katyayani, the fierce form of Goddess Durga who destroyed the demon Mahishasura. Yet, the temple itself has lived a life of battles—reduced to rubble, rebuilt with devotion, abandoned in silence and revived once more.
A Cry for Help in the 1970s
The shrine’s troubles began long before the turmoil of the 1990s. In the early 1970s, the Katyayani Temple was vandalised, forcing the Mandir Committee Kakran, then based in Jammu, to appeal for help. In February 1977, the committee published a heartfelt appeal in newspapers, urging devotees to contribute for its reconstruction. Kashmir Rechords is reproducing this archival appeal, published in February 1977.
The appeal, published on behalf of Capt. Narain Singh (Retd), Chairman of the Mandir Committee, Nail Basti Jammu Cantt nd Secretary, admitted with honesty that funds were the biggest obstacle. Yet, the committee carried hope: to rebuild the temple, give it a new shape, and provide modern facilities for pilgrims who came to seek the goddess’s blessings.
Rebuilt, Only to Fall Again
The temple rose again, rebuilt through devotion and determination. But fate had more trials in store. In 1992, after the demolition of the Babri Masjid, the Katyayani Temple of Kakran, Kulgam, Kashmir was once more vandalised reportedly by local villagers. What had been painstakingly revived now lay abandoned, its sanctity wounded yet again. For years, it stood in silence—a broken shrine, but never a forgotten one.
Devotion in Exile
Even as Kashmiri Pandits were forced into exile after the 1990 migration, their faith remained unbroken. Every year on ‘Haar Ashtami’, devotees would gather at the temple to perform the annual mahayagya, reaffirming their bond with Mata Katyayani, a form of goddess Durga. For them, the goddess was more than a deity—she was the strength that kept their heritage alive.
Finally, in 2012, the Kashmiri Pandit community took it upon themselves to restore the temple once again— without any support from the government. Alongside the shrine, a Dharamshala named Lalded Bhawan was built within the complex, giving pilgrims a place to stay and gather. Since then, annual congregations have brought life back to the courtyard, filling the air with chants and devotion.
The Enduring Spirit of Katyayani
Mata Katyayani, worshipped on the sixth day of Navratri, is celebrated as the goddess of courage and victory over evil. Her temple in Kakran, Kulgam, Kashmir despite repeated destruction, stands today as a mirror of her own spirit—unyielding, fierce, and protective.
The saga of the Katyayani Temple is not just about bricks and stone. It is the story of a people who refused to let their faith die, who rebuilt their goddess’s abode every time it was torn down. It is a reminder that while temples can be broken, faith always rises from the ashes.
