Umar Raina / Arvind Sharma
Ganderbal: The Annual Mela Kheer Bhawani, the most important festival of Kashmiri Pandits, was today celebrated on the occasion of Zyestha Ashtami where thousands of devotees offered pooja and paid obeisance at the famous temple of Ragnya Devi, in the district Ganderbal. Tullamulla and also at Bhawani Nagar, Jammu.
Nestled in the shade of mammoth Chinar trees in Tulmulla village, every year, thousands of Kashmiri Pandits from across the country throng the Kheer Bhawani temple in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district to celebrate zyestha Ashtami, on the eighth day of the Hindu calendar’s Jyestha month.
Devotees had arrived at the temple days ahead of the Jyeshtha Ashtami, and camp at the temple’s premises.
Amidst the chanting of religious hymns and the sound of temple bells reverberating throughout the temple compound, the devotees paid obeisance to the deity while offering milk and kheer (pudding) at the sacred spring within the complex.
The mela has become a symbol of communal harmony as local Muslims make all the arrangements for the devotees, including setting up of stalls for flowers and other offerings.
Walking barefoot and carrying rose petals, the devotees thronged the temple to pay obeisance to the deity while offering milk and kheer (pudding) at the sacred spring within the complex.
Pertinent to mention here, it is believed that the colour of the sacred spring water which flows below the temple indicates to the situation in the Valley. Black or darkish colour of the water is believed to be an indication of inauspicious times for Kashmir. However, this year the colour of the holy spring is clean, which indicates peace.
Meanwhile ADGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar paid obeisance at Mata Kheer Bhawani at Ganderbal.
Other dignitaries present on the occasion included SSP Ganderbal Nikhil Borker, Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal Shyambir and other officers of the district.
According to Kashmiri Pandits, Ragnya Devi is only worshiped in Kashmir.
Simran Koul, a Kashmiri Pandit devotee, told Rising Kashmir besides offering obeisance to the Mata Ragnya Devi, the occasion refreshes them the old memories, which they have cherished in Valley. She was equally happy to meet her old Muslim friends and also her own community members.
Several NGOs and civil society, including Central University of Kashmir had also made arrangements to provide wheelchairs and other aids for the convenience of the devotees at the fair. Special health check-up stalls were also set up by the Health Department, during which many devotees took consultations.
The administration had made proper arrangements for uninterrupted power and drinking water supplies, transport, security, fire tenders, ration, bedding, medical camps, and medical facilities at the temple besides free transport facility was also made for the devotees on various routes. Apart from this, reasonable arrangements were made for the believers inside and outside the temple.
Earlier, the Deputy Commissioner inspected the arrangements and enquired about the facilities being provided to the devotees. Full attention was given to ensure that devotees do not face any problem.
‘I have come for the fourth time to have Darshana of Mata Kheer Bhawani,” said Daizy, another Kashmiri Pandit.
Another pandit said: ‘I have been coming here continuously for the past many years. It serves as a reminder of the shared cultural roots that bind the diverse communities of the Valley together. He prayed for the peace and normalcy in the valley.
JAMMU:The annual Kheer Bhawani mela was on Sunday celebrated with full religious enthusiasm at Kheer Bhawani Temple in Janipur area of Jammu city with thousands of Kashmir Pandit devotees visiting the temple since last night to offer their prayers to the goddess Ragnya Devi.
“The Bhajan Kirtan started at 2 am last night and the devotees had the first darshan of the goddessRagnya Devi at 2 AM,” one of the founder members of the Ardh Ratri Maha Ragnya Devi Sewa Sanstha Trust, Dr Sushil Wattal told Rising Kashmir.
He said the darshan and Bhajan kirtan will continue till midnight and hawan and puja will also be performed as per the rituals.
A devotee, Pushar Nath Handoo, said that he wanted to visit Kashmir to offer prayers but due to old age, he couldn’t visit there. “I am more than satisfied to offer prayers here at Janipur temple which is exact replica of Kashmir’s temple”.
The Ardh Ratri Maha Ragnya Sewa Sanstha Trust, which has been making all arrangements for this religious occasion since 1994, had put in place various stalls for the convenience of the devotees visiting the temple.
Devotees were provided fruits, water, light refreshment and pooja samagri at thee stalls. “We do not take donation or any kind of help whatsoever from the people,” Dr Wattal said adding that people, right since 1994, have been donating voluntarily for this Kheer Bhawani Mela at Jammu.
He also recalled the early days of construction of this temple at Jammu. “It was a one room structure of bricks in 1993-94, when we started the Mela at Jammu and the first Pooja was performed by Raghunath Kokilloo,” Dr Wattal said adding that since then, with the blessings of the goddess, “we now have a big temple here at Jammu where thousands of devotees visit and offer prayers.”
