For the first time in the past 15 years, the Pandits of Kashmir valley on Tuesday took out a procession to celebrate Janmashtami.

Amidst religious chants in praise of Lord Krishna, the procession began from Raghunath temple at Barbarshah in Srinagar, passed through Durganaag temple at Dalgate and concluded at the place of its origin.

Organiser of the procession, Hindu Welfare Society, the representative body of Kashmiri Pandits who have stay put in the valley despite militancy, said the function was scheduled to be held yesterday but authorities did not give permission.

The permission was given for today and the procession passed off peacefully, the society said.

This is for the first time in the past 15 years, since the eruption of militancy in the state, that the Janmashtami procession has been taken out anywhere in the valley.

The last such procession was taken out in 1988. One of the devotees said the procession was an open invitation to their migrant brethren to return to their homeland as the situation had improved over the past few years.