Targetted Killings Fail To Deter Kashmiri Pandits, Thousands Visit Mata Kheer Bhavani Temple On Jyestha Ashtami

Srinagar, June 9 (TNA) On the auspicious occasion of Jyeshtha Ashtami, around 18,000 Kashmiri Pandits and devotees visited the famous Mata Kheer Bhavani Temple on Wednesday. Every year, on this auspicious day, Kheer Bhavani Mela is organized at Mata Kheer Bhavani Temple in Tulmulla, Ganderbal and devotees from different parts of Jammu and Kashmir visit the holy shrine here.

Kheer Bhavani is considered to be the deity of Kashmiri Pandits, who have a lot of recognition there. Jyeshtha Ashtami holds immense religious significance for Kashmiri Pandit brothers and sisters. Over the years, the Kheer Bhawani Mela has become a symbol of communal harmony and brotherhood in Kashmir. Elaborate security arrangements were made in this event, it was monitored by the Lt. Governor Shri Manoj Sinha himself.

Around 2,500 Kashmiri Pandit devotees participated in the evening aarti. The religious sanctity of Mata KheerBhavani Temple, built atop a holy spring, has a special spiritual significance among Kashmir Pandit devotees across the world. The event could not be held heredue to the COVID-19 pandemici n 2020 and 2021.

A free bus service was run from Srinagar Airport, Tourist Reception Centre, Dal Lake Side Nehru Park, Shankaracharya Temple, Shivpora, Bibi Cantt, Indira Nagar etc. in areas where Hindu communities live in large numbers.