GANDERBAL, JUNE 08: The Annual Mela Kheer Bhawani, the most important festival of Kashmiri Pandits, was today celebrated on the occasion of Zyestha Ashtami where thousands of devotees offered pooja and paid obeisance in the district Ganderbal after a gap of 2 years due of Covid.
Tullamulla shrine in addition to being the holiest shrine of the local Kashmiri Pandit community is also the symbol of centuries-old eclectic culture and brotherhood among different communities of Kashmir.
Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, R.R Bhatnagar, Chief Secretary, Arun Kumar Mehta, Additional Chief Secretary Agriculture Production Department, Atal Dulloo, Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal, Shyambir and other dignitaries attended the annual Kheer Bhawani mela and paid obeisance at Mata Kheer Bhawani temple.
The Tulmulla area of district Ganderbal witnessed enthusiastic scenes as a large number of devotees arrived here who paid obeisance and prayed for themselves and the entire humanity.
Mostly Kashmiri Pandits were seen performing the rituals of the festival at the temple who were warmly welcomed by the locals besides that locals were seen greeting devotees and making arrangements.
Earlier of the day, the Deputy Commissioner inspected the arrangements and enquired about the facilities being provided to the devotees who appreciated the district administration for the arrangements and facilities being provided to them for easy and comfortable darshan.
Pertinently, District Administration had made necessary arrangements for uninterrupted power and drinking water supplies, transport, security, fire tenders, ration, bedding, medical camps, and medical facilities at the temple besides free transport facility was also made for the devotees on various routes.
Several NGOs and civil society had also made arrangements by way of providing wheel chairs and other help to facilitate the devotees in the mela.
Special health checkup stalls were also installed by health department during which consultations were availed by several devotees.
The devotees and locals were also seen buying various local products from the stalls of SHG, horticulture, agriculture, Handicrafts and Handloom and other departments.
