Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 20: To pay obeisance on the auspicious occasion of ‘Zesht Ashtami’ today, thousands of devotees thronged Kheer Bhawani Temple at Bhawani Nagar, Janipur, here.
The pilgrims started visiting the holy temple from early in the morning to perform darshan and pay obeisance. But braving the scorching heat the rush swelled as the day progressed and continued up to late in the night.
Besides, performing the religious rituals and pooja-archana under the lotus feet of Goddess, the devotees were seen offering milk, flowers, “Kandh” (sugar) and Kheer in the holy spring as a ritual performed in holy temple.
The pilgrims from various parts of the Jammu paid obeisance at the shrine, wherein the atmosphere was jubilant with reciting of religious bhajans by various groups and prayers by devotees.
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The Ardh Ratre Maha Raghneya Sewa Sanstha Trust which is managing the Bhawani Nagar shrine of Goddess had made elaborate arrangements for the pilgrims. The volunteers of the Trust had installed various stalls from Bhawani Nagar road to holy shrine to assist the pilgrims and serve them water, fruit and juice. The stalls were also installed by the various voluntary organizations near the shrine selling flowers, milk and other pooja samagri (material).
A Maha Yagya was also solemnized at the Shrine by the Trust after which the devotees were served with prashad.
The entire temple complex was fully decorated and illuminated by the Trust befitting the occasion.
The Kheer Bhawani temple at Bhawani Nagar is replica of Mata Kheer Bhawani temple of Tulmulla Srinagar and it was constructed by the Kashmiri Pandits soon after the mass exodus of the community from the Valley as Kheer Bhawani is one of the sacred religious places of Kashmiri Pandits and the community has a lot of faith in the shrine.
In the evening Samohik Aarti was performed by the devotees and people from roof tops joined the Aarti. The prayers were held for peace and prosperity of the nation and return of complete normalcy in the State especially in Valley by the devotees, who experienced ecstatic feelings especially during ‘Aarti’ prayers’.
The administration had also made elaborate arrangements for the pilgrims visiting the holy shrine.
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