The annual Kheer Bhawani mela was celebrated with religious fervor with few thousand Kashmiri Pandits assisted by local Muslims thronging the temple of Raniya Devi here at Tulmulla on Tuesday.The whole of Tulmulla wore a festive look with piligrims --- majority of whom were displaced Pandits --- visited the shrine on the annual festival (Jyestha Ashtami) and held special prayers. Amid the hymns and bells, men and women, young and old, paid obeisance at the temple dedicated to the Hindu goddess Rajnya Devi, popularly known as Kheer Bhawani.The devotees offered milk and “kheer” (pudding) to the sacred spring surrounded by the Chinar trees within the temple complex. The devotees were also showering rose petals and lighting earthen lamps in the temple.
Although the government had made special arrangements for the convenience of devotees, the local Muslims, as usual, had also made arrangements for their Pandit brothers. The Muslims greeted Pandits and expressed hope of their return to Valley permanently.
However, the number of piligrims this year was less because of unfair weather and bad condition of Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, locals told GNS. “There is 40 percent decrease in the flow of piligrims this year,” they said. According to local estimate, 11.30 thousand piligrims visited the shrine.
Many Pandits expressed hope that without “politicizing” the issue of their return, the State and Central Government would make “sincere efforts” in this regard. “We want then government to facilitate our dignified and unconditional return,” they said.The local Muslims, while rejecting separate townships for the Pandits in the Valley, expressed desire to return and live with the Muslim brethren in valley, rejecting the offer of separate colonies. They said that Central and State government should create an environment for people to people contact and discuss return formula with those migrants who are still suffering in camps.
Meanwhile, Governor NN Vohra today visited Mata Kheer Bhawani Shrine at Tulmulla and prayed for peace and well being of the people of the State and the country, an official spokesman said here. He extended his greetings to the people, particularly Kashmiri Pandits, on the occasion of Jyestha Ashtami.
Ishfaq Ahmad Sheikh, MLA Ganderbal; Shaukat Ayaz, Deputy Commissioner, Ganderbal; Imtiya Ismail, Superintendent of Police, Ganderbal, and several important members of the community received the Governor on his arrival at the Shrine. The Governor discussed with the Deputy Commissioner the need for the urgent completion of the still incomplete sewerage treatment plant, also seeking the Dharamarth Trust’s involvement in this important Project. He also pointed to the need for the Ganderbal-Wayl Bridge road being widened at a few places to enable smoother traffic flows. (GNS)