*Yatra flagged off from Jammu
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 1: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo today visited the Mata Kheer Bhawani temple in the Tulmulla area of central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district to review the final arrangements for the annual Kheer Bhawani Mela, scheduled to be held on June 3.
During his visit, Dulloo paid obeisance at the shrine of Goddess Ragnya Devi and conducted a detailed inspection of the facilities being put in place for pilgrims. He reviewed arrangements for accommodation, food, sanitation, electricity, drinking water, transportation, and medical care. He also interacted with officers on the ground to identify any additional requirements to ensure a smooth and comfortable experience for devotees.
He emphasized the need for close coordination among departments to ensure the smooth conduct of the festival.
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Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal Jatin Kishore, Additional Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal, and senior officers from both the civil and police administrations accompanied the Chief Secretary during the visit.
Later in the day, Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat also visited the Tulmulla temple to review security arrangements. He was accompanied by senior police officers from the Ganderbal district and also paid obeisance at the temple. Officials said all security, logistical and lodging arrangements are in place to facilitate the movement and stay of pilgrims.
The Kheer Bhawani Mela will be celebrated at five temples dedicated to Goddess Ragnya Bhagwati – Tulmulla in Ganderbal, Manzgam and Devsar in Kulgam, Logripora in Anantnag, and Tikkar in Kupwara.
On Sunday morning, amid tight security, a convoy of buses carrying hundreds of Kashmiri Pandits left Jammu for the Valley to participate in the mela, one of the biggest religious gatherings for the community. The Government has provided transport for pilgrims from Jammu, Delhi, and Chandigarh.
At the Vessu transit camp in Anantnag, inmates welcomed the arriving pilgrims with warmth and celebration. “The Kheer Bhawani festival is a very special occasion for us. We celebrate it with enormous enthusiasm. We are here to welcome our brothers and sisters. You can see our sisters and elders – we are all here for them. The administration has provided very good facilities,” said one camp inmate.
A pilgrim at the camp expressed satisfaction with the arrangements. “I am feeling good. The arrangements have been excellent. We were served food in Nagrota, and the army has helped us a lot – more than necessary,” a pilgrim said.
At the Kheer Bhawani temple in Ganderbal, pilgrims shared their emotions and hopes. “We came here on May 30. I just want our brotherhood to stay united,” said one pilgrim. “We want to return to Kashmir and live here happily as we did before. When we come here, we feel that unity again. It doesn’t feel like we are separated,” Chanda Dhar, another pilgrim, said.
Junaid Ahmed Khadana, a resident of Kangan, said the mela is a celebration of communal harmony. “The administration has done a lot, and we are thankful. We have set up a pandal and will try to serve as much as we can. Everyone participates in the mela – both Hindus and Muslims. It is a joyful occasion and a strong example of brotherhood.”
Meanwhile, earlier in the day, amid tight security arrangements and chanting of religious hymns, the Kheer Bhawani Yatra was flagged off from Nagrota area of Jammu district by IGP Jammu, Bhim Sen Tuti.
Deputy Commissioner Jammu, Sachin Kumar Vaishya and Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner (Migrants), Dr Arvind Karwani, were also present on the occasion along with several senior civil and police officers.
As per officials, around 2,500 Kashmiri Pandit devotees left in a convoy of 60 JKRTC buses for the Valley to participate in the revered Mata Kheer Bhawani Mela.
En-route, District Administration Ramban facilitated a rest halt at Chandarkot for the pilgrims. All necessary arrangements, including accommodation, langar services, and essential facilities, have been jointly ensured by the local district administrations and the Relief Organization.
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