Avtar Bhat
TULMULLA/JAMMU June 8: Despite the recent selective killings by militants to cast a shadow on the festivities, hundreds of pilgrims participated in annual Kheer Bhawani mela here amid tight security on the occasion of Jyeshtha Ashtami.
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While the Mela has been organised after a gap of two years due to COVID-19 pandemic, the number of devotees this year, however, was far less than in the past due to terror violence who targeted the members of minority community especially the Government employees creating a fear psychosis among them.
Prime Minister, Narendra Modi also extended greetings to all, especially the Kashmiri Pandits on the auspicious occasion of Jyeshtha Ashtami.
In a tweet , the Prime Minister said, “Greetings to everyone, especially my Kashmiri Pandit sisters and brothers on Jyeshta Ashtami. We pray to Mata Kheer Bhawani for everyone’s well being and prosperity”.
Nestled in the shade of mammoth Chinar trees in Tulmulla village in the Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, the temple is visited by Kashmiri Pandit devotees from across the Valley and Jammu region as well as other devotees across the country.
Thousands of devotees used to visit the holy shrine prior to mass exodus of Pandits from Valley in 1990 and later during last over a decade also about 15,000 to 20,000 devotees had started visiting the holy shrine on the annual festival day. But during the outbreak of COVID pandemic the shrine was closed for devotees for two years and this year too the annual yatra remained a low key affair due to the selective killings.
However, as per the eye witness account, over 2000 devotees paid obeisance to the Goddess Ragnya Devi this time.
Devotees – walking barefoot – carried rose petals and offered prayers to the goddess, as the chants of hymns reverberated in the temple compound.
The devotees paid obeisance to the deity while offering milk and Kheer (pudding) at the sacred spring within the complex.
Former Sadar-e-Riyasat, Dr Karan Singh who is the sole trustee of Dharmarth Trust managing the shrine also visited Tulmulla and performed puja there today. He also interacted with some pilgrims and local people.
“The festivities are different this year as compared to the previous years. The fervour is missing. It is painful. Our hearts are filled with pain as the number of devotees this year is very low,” Meenakshi, a devotee said.
She said there was an atmosphere of fear in militancy-hit Kashmir before as well, but since the last couple of months, “the fear has increased due to the killings”.
“We (Kashmiri Pandits) are terrified,” she added.
A series of terror killing of non-Muslims, including migrant Kashmiri Government employees, in recent months in Kashmir has sparked fears of fresh exodus from the Valley.
Another devotee Sandeep Koul said it was unfortunate that there was not much of a rush of devotees.
“We feel good when we see our friends and relatives when they visit the temple. But, this year we are sad. The PM package employees have also left. Not many people have come from outside,” Koul said.
It is believed that the colour of the sacred spring water which flows below the temple indicates to the situation in the Valley.
While most of the colours do not have any particular significance, black or darkish colour of the water is believed to be an indication of inauspicious times for Kashmir.
Referring to the colour of the water in the temple compound which is “clear and milky white” this year, another devotee Vivek Bhat expressed hope that the coming time would be good for the Kashmir valley.
“We wish to see the festivities as they used to be in the previous years. We hope it brings back good times and our brothers who have left the Valley return,” he said.
Meenakshi said the Government had made security arrangements for the mela, but the community members were living under constant fear.
“See I had no security with me while I travelled. Even when we go to the market to get vegetables, we are constantly in fear. We see everyone with suspicion. We never know who will take out a pistol and opens fire,” she said, adding, “people here are good, but there are certain elements who are bad”.
Meenakshi said the community is hopeful of the situation improving.
Nanna Ji, a Kashmiri Pandit who is a regular devotee at the Mela every year, said there used to be no vacant space left in the temple compound in the previous years, but this year, the scene is different.
“I pray to Mata that the situation improves and those who have left the Valley because of target killings return to the Valley and next year, we can celebrate with great enthusiasm,” he said.
He appealed to the Muslim brethren to support the community to give a befitting reply to those behind the target killings.
The local people including representatives of Pensioners and Senior Citizens Welfare Society, chairman Mir Ghulam Rasool Batwani with his other colleagues also visited the shrine to welcome yatris. While recalling the situation prior to 1990 he said Kashmiri Muslims will always welcome their Pandit brethren in Valley and they crave for their return so that both communities can live in peace and amity as has been situation prior to nineties.
DDC chairperson, Ganderbal Nuzhat Ishfaq besides the local BJP leaders also visited the shrine to welcome the pilgrims. Many orgnisations had installed stalls there.
Meanwhile, thousands of pilgrims visited Mata Kheer Bhawani temple at Bhagwati Nagar Janipur, Jammu from morning to late in the evening to pay obeisance to the Goddess.
There was a huge rush of devotees in the morning but it decreased during the day time when the temperature was as its peak. However, the rush of pilgrims increased in the evening again with a large number of devotees drawn from different parts of Jammu participated in Samohik Aarti (prayers) of the Mata.
The devotees performed puja in a traditional way and offered flowers, Kheer, milk and water to the Mata. The Kheer Bhawani temple at Bhawani Nagar is the replica of Tulmulla shrine constructed by the devotees after mass exodus in 1990.
Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Ramesh Kumar along with other senior officers also visited the shrine in the morning to see the arrangements there. He also performed pooja in the shrine.
The shrine is being run by Mata Ardhratri Ragnya Peth Bhawani Nagar. The Sanstha and the administration had made all arrangements for the devotees visiting the shrine. According to Sanstha president, Rohit Koul and its vice president, Ajay Raina over 20,000 devotees visited the shrine during the annual mela today.
Various organisations including Nishkam Jal Sewa, Kashmiri Pandit United Front and many others had organised free service stalls for devotees.
Reports reaching here said the function was also held at Kheer Bhawani Shrine Manzgam, in Central Kashmiri’s Kulgam district where a Maha Yagya was also performed. Over 200 devotees participated in the function who were served with prashad after Puranahuti, Sanstha president Kuldeep Raina said.
In connection with annual Kheer Bhawani Mela Pushp Archana was performed at Sharika Peeth, Subash Nagar Jammu, today. A large number of devotees led by Sanstha president, M K Jalali participated in the Puja and paid obeisance to Goddess.
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