Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 2: As majority of Kashmiri Pandits refrained from visiting holy shrine of Mata Kheer Bhawani Tulmulla in Central Kashmir district of Ganderbal on the occasion of Zeasht Ashtami today due to recent happenings in Valley, there was an unprecedented rush of devotees at the Kheer Bhawani temple Bhawani Nagar, Janipur where thousands of pilgrims drawn from different parts of Jammu region thronged.
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.
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 rod 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 Samgri (material).
A Maha Yagya was also solemnized at the Shrine by the Trust which started yesterday evening and culminated with puranshuti this afternoon after which the devotees were served with prashad.
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 of Mata at Kheer Bhawani Tulmulla for centuries together.
The entire temple complex was fully decorated and illuminated by the Trust befitting the occasion.
Seema a female pilgrim from Durga Nagar said that they had intended pilgrimage of holy shrine Tulmulla in Ganderbal district as they used to perform darshan there every year even during the turmoil period but due to the recent developments in the Valley and continued attacks of security forces we cancelled the programme and our family decided to pay obeisance at Bhawani Nagar shrine this year as was decided by majority of community members.
Same were the views of Ramesh Kumar another pilgrim from Bohri who too had visited the shrine along with his family. He said as the majority of community decided not to visit Valley in view of recent happenings there we came to perform darshan here.
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 Valley by the devotees.
Later the night long Bhajan Kirtan was held by the devotees.
The administration had also made elaborate arrangements for the pilgrims visiting the holy shrine.
In connection with Zeast Ashtami festival a Maha Yagya was also solemnized at Sharda Peeth Bantalab by the devotees of Tripur Sundri Khanbarnian, Devsar in South Kashmir district of Kulgam as the devotees could not visit the holy shrine this year to participate in the annual religious function there due to prevailing situation in Kashmir. The hawan started yesterday and culminated this afternoon. A large number of devotees including the residents of Devsar and surrounding villages participated in the function.
Meanwhile the three day long religious function in connection with Zeasht Ashtami concluded at Kailash Vidya Dham Chinore where a Vedic Hawan was performed under the supervision of Prof A K Ogra a religious scholar. A large number of devotees participated in the function and they were served with prashad after Puranahuti.
The VHP State leaders including its president Leela Karan Sharma, general secretary, Shakti Dutt Sharma, Suresh Ji also attended the function and participated in Vedic Hawan which was performed by the religious scholars from Rishi Kesh. Swami Kumar Ji of Geeta Satsangh Ashram Muthi and other scholars gave religious discourses during the function.
Zeasht Ashtami was also celebrated at KP Sabha Ambphalla where Puja Archana was performed in which a large number of devotees participated. The pooja was performed in the traditional manner in which devotees prayed for the well being of people of the State.
The function was held under the supervision of president K P Sabha K K Khosa in which other office bearers of the Sabha were also present.
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