In a joyous celebration, the annual festival of HaarTchodah took place on Sunday at the revered Mata JawalaJi Temple, situated in the Khrew area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district. The occasion witnessed a remarkable gathering of Kashmiri Pandits from different regions of Jammu and Kashmir, who flocked to the temple to pay their respects and seek blessings.
The festival commemorates the birth anniversary of Mata JawalaJi, a highly revered deity. Krishna Bagati, a resident of Budgam district in central Kashmir, expressed that visiting this temple is a cherished yearly tradition for their community. She explained, “As today marks the birthday of our beloved Goddess Jawala Mata Ji, we have gathered here to pay our humble respects.”
During this significant event, prayers were offered and devotees prepared Tahri, a delectable dish of fried rice mixed with turmeric, which was distributed among the attendees. Maharaj Krishna Raina, President of JawalaJiSamiti, expressed his astonishment at the overwhelming number of devotees present at the temple, which he said had not been witnessed in the past 30 years.
It is worth noting that, along with Hindus, members of the Muslim community also thronged to the temple in large numbers, extending their support in organizing the festivities. Maharaj Krishna Raina expressed his appreciation for the assistance rendered by the Public Health Engineering Department (PHE), Municipal Committee (MC) Khrew, local administration, and dedicated volunteers in facilitating the necessary arrangements for the devotees.
The ancient shrine of Jawala Mata, also known as ZaalaBhagwati, holds immense significance for Kashmiri Pandit families, as she is considered their Isht Devi or local Deity. Located atop an elevated hillock, the octagonal-shaped temple is accessed through a ladder carved from devri stones, consisting of approximately 320 steps.
The birthday of Goddess Jwalaji, known as AshadShuklaChaturdashi or JwalaChaturdashi, was commemorated with great enthusiasm during the festival. Local Kashmiri PanditKarsevaks and Mandir Committees, including Swami Jeewan Sahib MandirPrabandhak Trust Ladhoo, Mandir Committee Wuyan, BaladeviAsthapanCommittee Balhama, Sedeshwar Temple Committee Pampore, and JawalaJiSamitiKhrew, established langars (community kitchens) and made other necessary arrangements for the devotees.
Ravi JiBhat, a local social activist, highlighted the contributions of the Khrew army unit and the People’s Welfare Forum Khrew, a local youth association, who distributed fruits and water among the devotees. He extended his gratitude to the district administration, PHE, Police, CRPF, Army, Tehsil administration, and MC Khrew for ensuring the provision of various essential services at the shrine during the auspicious occasion.
The celebration of the HaarTchodah festival at Mata JawalaJi Temple stands as a testament to the harmonious coexistence of different communities and the vibrant cultural tapestry of Jammu and Kashmir.
