Amid hymns & prayers, Kheer Bhawani Mela celebrated with fervour at Tulmula

Ganderbal, June 14: Tens of thousands of Kashmiri Pandit devotees thronged the famous KheerBhawani temple of Ragnya Devi in the Tulmulla area of central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district to celebrate the annual festival of KheerBhawani. The entire Tulmulla area wore a festive look as pilgrims, most of whom were displaced Pandits, visited the shrine for the annual festival of JyesthaAshtami.
Amidst hymns and the sound of bells, men, women, young, and old paid obeisance at the temple dedicated to the goddess Ragnya Mata.
Devotees offered milk and kheer (pudding) to the sacred spring surrounded by Chinartrees within the temple complex. They also showered rose petals and lit earthen lamps in the temple. While the government had made special arrangements for the convenience of the devotees, local Muslims had also organized facilities for their Pandit brothers. Muslims greeted Pandits and expressed hope for their permanent return to the valley.
“The Muslims and Hindus made arrangements for the festival of the Mata,” stated the Ganderbal district administration, which ensured comprehensive arrangements for the smooth conduct of the mela. Provisions included uninterrupted power and drinking water supplies, transportation, security, fire tenders, ration, bedding, and medical facilities. Additionally, free transport was provided for devotees on various routes.
Local Muslim vendors set up stalls outside the temple, selling everything needed for the festival rituals. Sita Devi, a devotee, emphasized the importance of the festival for the Pandit community and prayed for their return. “It’s a great feeling to celebrate this festival in our own village with such mutual cooperation,” said one Kashmiri Pandit.
Notable attendees included SSP Ganderbal, Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal, and other police and civil administration officials, along with scores of Kashmiri Pandits from different parts of the country. The festival, associated with the Hindu Goddess Ragnya Devi, is the most important for Kashmiri Pandits. Special health check-up stalls were also set up by the Health Department, providing consultations to many devotees.
Director General of Police, J&K, R.R. Swain, paid his obeisance at the revered Mata KheerBhawani on the occasion of the annual mela and prayed for everlasting peace, brotherhood, and harmony in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Accompanied by jurisdictional police officers, including IGP Kashmir V.K. Birdi and DIG CKR Rajiv OmprakashPande, the DGP offered prayers at the sacred shrine, seeking the blessings of the divine for the welfare and prosperity of the people, the families of martyrs, police personnel, and security forces. The DGP also interacted with the devotees and pilgrims gathered at the mela. “Mata KheerBhawaniMela is a symbol of our rich cultural heritage and communal harmony. It is a reminder that our diverse communities have always co-existed in peace and harmony, and we must strive to strengthen this bond,” the DGP said.
Senior officers from the UT administration and police, including Chief Secretary AtalDulloo and Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Vijay Kumar Bidhuri, visited the temple and paid obeisance there. The festival witnessed the participation of mostly Kashmiri Pandits performing rituals, while local Muslims extended greetings and assisted with arrangements, reinforcing the spirit of communal harmony.
Several NGOs and civil society organizations contributed to the event by offering wheelchairs and other aids to facilitate the convenience of the devotees. In a significant initiative, the District Administration Ganderbal, in collaboration with the District Information Centre Ganderbal, facilitated the live streaming of the MelaKheerBhawani event on YouTube. This effort allowed devotees who could not attend in person to participate virtually, ensuring wider accessibility to the spiritual experience.