The annual pilgrimage to the Mata Kheer Bhawani shrine in Jammu and Kashmir has commenced, with devotees, primarily Kashmiri Pandits, embarking on their journey to the revered temple in Tulmulla, Ganderbal district. The Kheer Bhawani Mela, scheduled for June 3rd, 2025, coinciding with Jyeshtha Ashtami, is a significant religious event for the community, symbolizing a deep connection to their cultural and spiritual roots.
Despite recent security concerns following a terror attack in Pahalgam, pilgrims are arriving with unwavering faith, determined to partake in the festivities and offer prayers to Goddess Ragnya Devi, also known as Kheer Bhawani. The pilgrims' resilience underscores the profound emotional and spiritual bond the Kashmiri Pandit community holds with the shrine, viewing the pilgrimage as a homecoming and a reaffirmation of their identity.
The administration has put in place elaborate arrangements to ensure a smooth and secure pilgrimage. Security measures have been heightened, with deployment of Jammu and Kashmir Police, CRPF, and SSB, supported by drone surveillance, CCTV cameras, and checkpoints. Accommodation, transportation, sanitation, and medical facilities are being provided to the pilgrims. The Relief Organization has arranged buses to transport devotees from Jammu to Tulmulla and other shrines in the region. Medical camps have been set up to provide immediate healthcare, and waterproof tents with bedding arrangements are in place for the comfort of the devotees.
Local Muslims are also actively participating in the Mela by setting up stalls for prasad, highlighting the communal harmony that is an integral part of Kashmir's syncretic culture. The Kheer Bhawani Mela is not just a religious event but also a symbol of cultural unity and resilience, bringing together people from different backgrounds in a spirit of devotion and harmony.
During the festival, devotees offer milk and kheer (rice pudding) at the sacred spring, believed to reflect the region's socio-political climate through its color changes. It's believed that if the water of the holy spring turns black, it indicates something unpleasant is going to happen. Hymns dedicated to Goddess Ragnya Devi are chanted, and collective Satsangs and community prayers are organized. The temple is dedicated to the goddess Ragnya Devi, an incarnation of Goddess Durga. Legend says that the idol of the Goddess was brought to the village by Lord Hanuman from Lanka after the Ramayana war.
The Kheer Bhawani Mela holds immense significance for the Kashmiri Pandit community, offering them a chance to reconnect with their roots and seek solace in their faith. The annual pilgrimage is a testament to their resilience and their determination to preserve their cultural heritage in the face of adversity.
