Faith meets harmony

Tulmulla, Jun 22: In a vibrant display of faith, devotion, and communal harmony, thousands of Kashmiri Pandits on Monday thronged the Kheer Bhawani Temple dedicated to Ragnya Devi here in Tulmulla area of Ganderbal district on the occasion of Mela Kheer Bhawani festival which was celebrated with religious fervour. Kashmiri Pandit devotees had start arriving at the famous Kheer Bhawani Temple since Sunday to celebrate the annual festival. The number of devotees was more this year as compared to previous years.  The annual Kheer Bhawani Mela remains one of the most important religious events for the Kashmiri Pandit community and continues to attract devotees from across the country every year. Devotees, mostly Kashmiri Pandits from across India and abroad, converged at the Mata Kheer Bhawani shrine in Tulmulla early Monday as the annual Kheer Bhawani Mela began on Jyeshtha Ashtami. The atmosphere was charged with a strong spirit of communal harmony. By sunrise, the temple complex was packed with devotees offering ‘kheer’ — milk and rice pudding - to Ragnya Devi. Many devotees arrived overnight from Srinagar, Jammu, Delhi, and other states.  Long queues was formed for darshan, but volunteers and security personnel ensured smooth movement.“This is our annual homecoming. Tulmulla feels like family. Muslim brothers here help us set up things, offer water, and guide us,” said Ramesh Koul, a devotee who traveled from Jammu.Multi-layer security by J&K Police, CAPF, and Traffic Police was in place while CCTV and drones monitored crowds.What stood out was Tulmulla’s famed brotherhood. Local Muslim residents opened their homes for devotees, set up free tea stalls, and helped manage crowds. “Our forefathers have protected this shrine. Kheer Bhawani is Kashmiriyat in its purest form,” said Bilal Ahmad, a local from Tulmulla, who was serving water. Nestled in the shade of mammoth Chinar trees in Tulmulla village, the temple witnessed massive crowds of devotees. The entire route from Ganderbal to the shrine wore a festive look as vehicles carrying the pilgrims in colorful dresses converged in long rows at the shrine. Singing hymns and chanting slogans, the devotees made it to the Kheer Bhawani temple. Walking barefoot, the devotees carried rose petals and offered tribute to the goddess as men took a dip in the stream close to the shrine. Travelling all the way from Jammu and other parts of India where they are settled since their mass displacement, the atmosphere in today’s congregation created nostalgia about the times when Pandits and Muslims lived side by side across the length and breadth in Kashmir. With tears in eyes and roses in hands as a symbol of love, these displaced Kashmiri Pandits folded their hands and prostrated before Mata Kheer Bhawani with the motive of seeking her blessings.  Extensive arrangements were put in place by the administration to facilitate the smooth conduct of the mela.  Security personnel, health services, transport facilities, sanitation workers, and volunteers remained deployed throughout the day to assist yatris and ensure their safety and comfort. Several devotees expressed happiness at being able to visit the shrine and reconnect with their cultural and spiritual roots. Many described the gathering as an emotional and significant occasion that strengthens their bond with the Valley. Ashok Bhan, a displaced Kashmiri Pandit, said that they yearn for peace to prevail in Kashmir so that they can return to their homeland. “We are here to meet our Muslim brothers and to participate in the Kheer Bhawani Mela and wish to see the blessings of Mata Kheer Bhawani getting showered on Kashmir and normalcy returning to it forever,” another Kashmir Pandit said. The Kashmiri pandits praised the hospitality exhibited by local Muslims.“I am so happy that I came here. I prayed for peace and harmony. I was glad to see young boys, both Muslims and Hindus, making arrangements for the festival of the Mata,” said Santosh Nath, a Kashmiri Pandit who is visiting the temple for last several years. Nath who lived in Habba Kadal area of Srinagar, was displaced during the nineties.  The scenes at the entry to the shrine were “reminiscent of the good old days”, according to Arshid Ahmad, selling milk to the yatris outside the main gate of the shrine. According to belief, the goddess changes the colour of the spring's waters, which are ascribed to different manifestations of the goddess. Turning of the colour into shades of black is supposed to signal approaching disaster while as the milky colour of the spring indicates the peace and prosperity for the state.  Several political leaders, social activists and senior civil and police officials visited Tulmulla on the occasion and extended their greetings to the devotees. Deputy Commissioner Ganderbali Jatin Kishore and SSP Ganderbal Sudhanshu Dhama were monitoring the situation and arrangements for devotees.