Discernible change in Kashmir: KPs
Avtar Bhat/Fayaz Bukhari
JAMMU/GANDERBAL, May 28: Thousands of devotees drawn from Jammu and different parts of country today thronged the Mata Kheer Bhawani shrine, Tulmulla near Ganderbal and paid obeisance to the Goddess on the occasion of Jesht Ashtami being celebrated as the birthday of Goddess- the presiding deity of Kashmiri Pandits.
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As the inclement weather and heavy down pour had played a spoilsport during previous two days, the yatris heaved a sigh of relief after the weather improved today and it was a sunny day throughout today. There was huge rush of pilgrims at the holy shrine as yatris including a sizable number of women pilgrims were waiting in huge queues for darshan.
There were huge queues of pilgrims in front of langars as well. The local Muslims had also installed stalls as usual to supply flowers, Pooja Samigri, milk etc to devotees which is reminiscent of pre 1990 days.
There was such a huge rush that the devotees with flower petals, milk and other Pooja Samigri in their hands jostled with each other to reach the temple and have darshan of Mata. They were so jubilant that some of them danced to the tune of Bhajans sung in the praise of Goddess. The Bhajan-Kirtan continued in the premises of the holy shrine for last two days.
Nestled in the shade of mammoth Chinar trees in the central Kashmir district, the entire temple premises was fully decorated on the occasion.
The devotees, walking barefoot, carried rose petals and offered tribute to the Goddess as men took a dip in the stream close to the shrine.
The chants of hymns echoed through the temple compound and devotees paid obeisance to the deity while offering milk and kheer (rice pudding) at the sacred spring within the complex.
The Mela, passed off peacefully as the administration had made elaborate arrangements, including security related, for the devotees.
The pilgrims said that Jesht Ashtami is an important day in their life and they used to visit the shrine every year on this occasion with their families prior to mass exodus of the community in 1990. They, however, exuded the confidence that there is a discernable change in ground situation in Valley with the efforts of the Government and the day will not be far away when pre 1990 atmosphere will return to Valley.
Kheer Bhawani which is one of the most sacred shrines of Kashmiri Pandits has a lot of religious significance for them. It is believed that the colour of the sacred spring water which flows below the temple indicates the situation in the Valley.
“We want prosperity everywhere. Today, the situation is good in Kashmir. The arrangements are good for the mela,” said a pilgrim who had come from Jammu to take part in the mela.
Another devotee of Mata Dileep, said there was about 80-85 per cent improvement in the situation from the 1990s in Kashmir.
“We also want to return to our homeland. We pray whenever we come here and today as well we prayed for our return,” he said.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti, who also paid obeisance at the temple, said that she prayed for the dignified return of the Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley.
“I came here to welcome our Kashmiri Pandit brothers who have come from Jammu and other places. We are here to pray for the dignified return of these people to their homes so that once again Hindu-Muslim-Kashmiri Pandits live together in Kashmir with brotherhood,” she told reporters.
“The atmosphere here is very good. Our eyes are filled with emotions when we see our Muslim brothers. My friends have come here and we felt so good to meet. We get to meet once a year,” Rakesh Raina, who lives in Jagti, Jammu, said.
He said the mela sends a message of national integration for the country.
“We are getting to see the same brotherhood for which Kashmir was famous. We prayed for the return of those good old days and that we live like we used to be. We all are together of many religions and castes. There is no difference,” he said.
Bilal Bhat, a local, said the Muslim community welcomed the guests with open arms and wanted Kashmiri Pandits to return to the Valley.
“Every year we celebrate this festival. It is an unbelievable, unexpected crowd here. We have kept open our houses for our guests. We want this love, brotherhood and peace we see here to remain forever,” he said.
Additional Director General of Police, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar also paid obeisance at the shrine.
He said, “Ganderbal Police has made very good security arrangements. Srinagar police had also deployed ROP (Road Opening Parties). There is foolproof security and the locals have supported the police as well. I wish all of them well.”
Additional DC Ganderbal, Mushtaq Ahmed Simnani told Excelsior that everything was put in place and administration had made elaborate arrangements for this year’s yatra including water supply, electricity, renovation and cleanliness as well as security. “We ensured at our level that the pilgrims should not feel any difficulty and everything passed peacefully,” he added.
The Sevadars and social activists of the Nagdandi Ashram which has installed a Langar at the shrine provided round the clock services to the pilgrims. Hundreds of pilgrims are daily reporting at the Langar for breakfast, lunch and dinner. “We have been providing the free Langar service at the shrine for over two decades.” said president of Nagdandi Ashram, B L Bhat Katal.
Kheer Bhawani Yatra Welfare Society chairman, Kiran Wattal said that his organisation is organising yatra since 2013. This time besides organising yatra the holy shrine was illuminated by the Society volunteers.
Meanwhile, in Jammu, thousands of Kashmiri Pandits today offered prayers to Goddess Ragnya Devi on the occasion of ‘Jesht Ashtami’ at Kheer Bhawani Peeth in the Janipur area.
The ‘Peeth’ was constructed as a replica of the original shrine in Tulmulla after the mass migration of the community from the Valley in the early 1990’s.
“We missed a visit to Tulmulla this time and decided to offer our prayers here…We are witnessing the same atmosphere which used to prevail at the Kheer Bhawani shrine in Kashmir during the annual fair,” Ratika, a devotee who visited the Jammu temple, said.
Raj Kumar, another devotee, said he had never visited Tulmulla shrine but is a regular visitor here.
“There is a festive look with a massive gathering of Pandits on the auspicious occasion of Jesht Ashtami,” he said, expressing his desire to visit Tulmulla shrine and resettle in his Budgam home town one day.
The management of the temple, Ardh Ratri Maha Ragnya Sewa Sanstha Trust, had set up several stalls for the convenience of the devotees, who thronged the tastefully decorated shrine to offer their prayers in their traditional way.
A member of the Trust said the Sanstha, with the help of local authorities, had made adequate arrangements for the smooth conduct of the festival at the Peeth.
Meanwhile, hundreds of pilgrims also thronged various other shrines of Mata Kheer Bhawani in Kashmir including Tikker Kupwara, Manzgam and Tripur Sunderi in Kugam district, Raithan in Budgam district and Lorkipora in Anantnag district.
The local management committees had made elaborate arrangements for the boarding and lodging of yatris at these shrines. Hawans were performed there to invoke the blessings of Goddess. At Manzgam shrine, a Maha Yagya was held under the presidentship of Kuldeep Raina and supervision of Jyotshi Avtar Krishan Shastri.
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