Mir Mudasir
In Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district on the lap of Pirpanchal mountains, the Kheer Bhawani temple was spruced up, locals had installed their stalls and the security was huge but the pilgrims were a few despite the fact from past two years due to covid pandemic, the festival couldn’t be held in the temple that is surrounded by beautiful spring which keep its colors changing and Kashmiri pandits hold the belief the color of spring conveys them message about the coming events in Kashmir.
People especially locals were eagerly waiting for the ardent devotees but very less people turned for prayers compared to previous years.
Due to recent targeted killings, very less number of pilgrims this year visited the temple, some 24 km from Srinagar. This annual mela of Kheer Bhawani, which otherwise used to be the biggest Hindu festival in Jammu and Kashmir after Amarnath Yatra in recent years. The annual ‘Mela Kheer Bhawani’, is one of the significant festivals of Kashmiri Pandits associated with Goddess Ragnya Devi. The festival is being held on Jesht Ashtami (May-June) every year when Kashmiri pandits visit the place in large number to offer prayers and seek blessings of the deity.
“Many people from my community told me not to go due to killings of pandits. But I went there and came back. For me visiting was important because I regularly go there and pray. Its true very few people came this year. Even the migrant pandits who live at transit accommodations didn’t visit the temple this year like previous years,” said Anil Kumar a migrant who stays at Indra Nagar.
Jyeshtha Ashtami holds immense religious significance for Kashmiri Pandit brothers and sisters. Over the years, the Kheer Bhawani Mela has become a symbol of communal harmony and brotherhood in Kashmir. “I am selling candles, lamps and flowers for pilgrims. They love to purchase these items from us,” said Shabir Ahmad a local from Wakura who had set up stall at the entrance of the temple. “Compared to previous years, this time very less number of people turned for darshan. Still we are happy as some of our neighbours visited all the way from Jammu migrant camp. This festival gives us an opportunity to meet our old neighbours.”
Nanaji from Srinagar after coming out from the temple also agreed that turnout was very less. “It’s only because of fear and targeted killings. Still people came and performed darshan which is encouraging sign for our community.”
Inside the temple many Muslims could be seen helping Hindu pilgrims. An 80 year old lady was helped by her Muslim neighbour who was accompanying her son who is a government official and was feeling proud for taking her mother inside the temple.”For me its joyous moment that my mother was able to pray inside the temple,” the officer said.
Though government said around 18,000 Kashmiri Pandits and devotees visited the famous Mata Kheer Bhawani Temple on the auspicious occasion of Jyestha Ashtami. “Around 2,500 Kashmiri Pandit devotees participated in the evening aarti,” the government spokesman said adding that J&K Lt Governor, Manoj Sinha himself monitored the entire event.
Every year, on this auspicious day, Kheer Bhavani Mela is organized at Mata Kheer Bhawani Temple in Tulmulla, Ganderbal and devotees from different parts of Jammu and Kashmir visit the holy shrine here. Kheer Bhawani is considered to be the deity of Kashmiri Pandits, who have a lot of recognition there. The religious sanctity of Mata Kheer Bhawani Temple, built atop a holy spring, has a special spiritual significance among Kashmiri Pandit devotees across the world.
Foolproof security arrangements were made for the pilgrims, there was three tier security in place around the temple and bullet proof vehicles surrounded the area. Even the pilgrims and other visitors were allowed inside only after proper frisking and screening. Top mainstream leaders visited the temple and spend time with the devotees. Though government had made arrangements of free bus service from Jammu to Kheer Bhawani, however only couple of hundreds pandits came.
“This year people skipped the mela because there is tension between migrant pandit employees and the government especially after killing of Rahul Bhat and Rajini Bhala. This is the reason why people skipped this festival,” said Ravi Kumar who came from Jammu.
