Despite worry, Kheer Bhawani Mela to be held on June 8 in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district

Express News Service

SRINAGAR: Even as worry has gripped the migrant Kashmiri Pandits and minority group over focused killings by militants within the Valley, the annual Zeshta Ashtami pageant often known as Kheer Bhawani mela can be held at Kheer Bhawani temple at Tulmulla in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district on June 8.

Priest of the Kheer Bhawani temple Pandit Kalbushan Sharma informed The New Indian Express that the annual Kheer Bhawani mela can be held on June 8 and preparations are underway for the yearly pageant.

The well-known Ragnya Devi temple often known as Kheer Bhawani temple at Tulumulla space in Ganderbal district is revered by the Kashmiri Pandits. Thousands of Kashmiri Pandits go to the temple yearly on the event of the annual Zeshta Ashtami pageant.

The annual pageant was held in a low-key affair in 2021 with solely a handful of devotees visiting the temple because of the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2020, the annual mela was cancelled because of the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic however the Aarti was telecast on-line.

Sharma stated in view of the prevailing state of affairs within the Valley, a lesser variety of Pandit devotees are anticipated to go to the temple this yr. “We expect 10000-15000 devotees to visit the temple on June 8,” he stated.

The stream of Kashmiri Pandit devotees to the temple has declined after the killing of Pandit worker Rahul Bhat on May 12 and subsequent goal killings within the Valley. In 2019, about 55000 devotees visited the temple and provided particular puja on the pageant.

The temple premises additionally has a spring and in keeping with the Pandits, the color of the water within the spring is an indicator of the state of affairs within the valley. According to Sharma, the spring within the temple has modified its color and now the water of the spring is blue color

“The colour of the spring was pink a fortnight back and now it is blue.  The blue signifies the colour of peace,” he stated and hoped that there can be peace and tranquillity in J&Okay. Sharma stated if the spring displays pink or black color, it’s being seen as a foul omen.

The Pandits had migrated en masse from Kashmir after the eruption of militancy in 1989. However, they’ve been yearly visiting Kashmir since 1994 to attend the Kheer Bhawani pageant.