Ganderbal, Jun 22: The Mela Kheer Bhawani concluded on Jyeshtha Ashtami with deep faith, living harmony, and administration that worked without glitches visible on the ground.
From 6 am, the sacred spring and temple complex were packed.
Kashmiri Pandits from Jammu, and different parts of country and outside India who had come to attend the annual festival offered ‘kheer’ to Goddess Ragnya Devi.
The crowd watched the spring’s colour closely, an age-old tradition believed to foretell the year ahead.
Bhajans, havan, and Vedic chants ran non-stop for 14 hours.
For many families, it was their only day back in ancestral Ganderbal.
“We travel 2000 km for these 10 minutes at Mata’s spring. It keeps our roots alive,” said a devotee from Pune.
Following Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s directive, the administration led by DC Ganderbal and SSP Ganderbal delivered what officials called a “zero-complaint mela”.
Every department worked in sync.
From electricity to waste disposal, the plan was executed on ground.
The mela’s smooth conduct adds to Ganderbal’s 2026 tourism push.
Naranag reopened June 1, SDA held Yoga Day at Sonamarg on June 21, and lavender fields are drawing visitors.
Officials say better roads and trust in the administration are bringing more devotees back each year.
Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat, IGP Kashmir V K Birdi, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg, DIG Central Kashmir Rajiv Omprakash Panday, all visited the shrine.
J&K Congress chief Tariq Hamid Karra, Congress leader and MLA Dooru Ghulam Ahmad Mir, Leader of Opposition in Legislative Assembly Sunil Sharma, BJP leader Ashok Koul, and other political figures also attended the devotional proceedings, paid obeisance, and met devotees.
The presence of senior civil and police leadership reassured yatris and underscored the administration’s commitment to ensuring a peaceful, inclusive, and well-managed mela.
Devotees praised the exemplary arrangements from robust security and seamless crowd management to clean accommodation, langars, and medical facilities, terming the experience “safe, dignified and spiritually uplifting.”
Many yatris highlighted the enduring Hindu-Muslim brotherhood of Kashmir, noting the cooperation of locals and volunteers who worked shoulder to shoulder to welcome devotees.
“This mela is not just a religious gathering; it is a celebration of Kashmiriyat,” said a devotee who had travelled from outside the Valley.
Deputy Commissioner Jatin Kishore and Senior Superintendent of Police Sudhanshu Dhama led from the front, while Additional Deputy Commissioner Syed Fahim Bihaqui, ACR Ganderbal Sheikh Salahuddin, and other civil and police officials from district were lauded for meticulous coordination that kept the event pleasantly under control despite the heavy footfall.
During his visit, DGP Nalin Prabhat paid obeisance and personally reviewed the extensive security and logistical arrangements made for the devotees attending the annual festival.
The visit was part of a broader administrative coordination to ensure a seamless and peaceful mela.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg extended greetings to devotees on the occasion and said elaborate arrangements had been put in place for yatris visiting Kheer Bhawani temples across the Valley.
Speaking during his visit to the shrine, Garg said the festival was being celebrated not only at Tulmulla but also at Mansgam, Devsar, Logripora, and Tikkar.
He conveyed his best wishes to devotees who had arrived from Jammu and various parts of Kashmir and said all necessary facilities had been arranged for the smooth conduct of the celebrations.
The Divisional Commissioner also expressed hope that Kashmir’s long-standing tradition of celebrating festivals together in an atmosphere of harmony, brotherhood, and mutual respect would continue to be preserved and strengthened.