Kashmir celebrates Kheer Bhawani Mela
Ganderbal,CNS,08-June;The annual Kheer Bhawani mela In the temple of Rajnya Devi, in Tulmulla Ganderbal in central Kashmir, witnessed the lowest turnout of Pandit devotees on Wednesday with Muslims greeting and hugging Kashmiri Pandits after a hiatus of two years owing to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Hundreds of Kashmiri Pandits, who had migrated from the Valley after eruption of militancy in 1989, visited the shrine on the annual festival (Jyestha Ashtami) and held special prayers.
Kheer Bhawani Melas are organized at five shrines across Kashmir. These are Ragnya Bhagwati shrines at Tulmulla in Ganderbal, Manzgam in Kulgam, Devsar in Kulgam, Logripora in Anantnag, and Tikkar in Kupwara.
Among these temples, the Tulmulla temple nestled in the shade of mammoth Chinar trees witnesses’ massive gatherings with pandits settled in Kashmir and different parts of the country visiting the shrine to seek the blessings of the presiding deity.
Amid the hymns and bells, men and women, young and old, paid obeisance at the temple dedicated to the goddess Rajnya Devi, popularly known as Kheer Bhawani.
According to a legend, there were 360 springs surrounding the main spring but they seem to have disappeared as the land has become marshy all around.
At the temple complex, devotees offer milk and “kheer” (pudding) to the sacred spring which is surrounded by Chinar trees. They also shower rose petals and light earthen lamps in the temple.
A devotee while speaking to CNS said that this holiest shrine of the local Kashmiri Pandit community is also the symbol of brotherhood among different communities of Kashmir.
On Tuesday, Divisional Commissioner (Div Com) Kashmir, P K Pole visited Kheer Bhawani Temple Tulmulla to review the arrangements put in place for the smooth conduct of the Mela.
The Div Com was accompanied by DIG-CKR, Sujit K Singh; Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal, Shyambir; ADC Ganderbal, Farooq Ahmad Baba; ASP Ganderbal, Feroz Yehya; E.O Municipality, Tehsildar Lar, President Dharmarth Trust and other officials concerned.(CNS)
