Aaqib Magray
Ganderbal 20 June【KNZ】:Thousands of Kashmiri Pandits livings in various parts of country today thronged to Tulamulla and celebrate annual Kheer Bhawani Mela.
As usual comunnal harmony among Pandits and Kashmiri was on display in the Mela.The local Kashmiri Muslims wholeheartedly welcomed the pandits.They made many arrangments for the fair.
Local Muslims made special arrangments for devotees by providing drinking water and juice they also setup various stalls for devotees which include flower stalls and pooja metaral stall.
Kheer Bhawni Mela is considered as biggest congregration on Pandits in Valley .Number of migrant Kashmiri pandits travel from various parts of country to Ragnys Davi temple in Tulamulla to celebrate Kheer Bhawani festival.
Devotees walk bare foot ,Carry rose petals and ring bells of Ragny Davi Temple.Thet offer milk and Kheer (pudding) to spring with in the temple.The spring in the temple complex is belived to be vary sacred.
The Temple, dedicated to the Goddess Mata Kheer Bhawani, has been constructed over a Sacred Spring (Marble Temple). The Temple-Spring complex is affectionately known as Kheer Bhawani as thousands of devotees offer milk and ‘Kheer’ to the Sacred Spring.
Mela Kheer Bhawani – An Annual Festival: The devotees of the Goddess Mata Kheer Bhawani fast and gather here on the eighth day of the full moon in the month of May/ June
The Goddess changes the colour of the spring’s waters, which are ascribed to different manifestations of the Goddess Mata Kheer Bhawani. Turning of the colour into shades of black is supposed to signal approaching disaster.
According to the legend, there were 360 springs surrounding the main spring but all of these seem to have disappeared as the land has become marshy all around.
In the last half century, the pilgrimage has become the most important for Kashmiri Brahmans who come here from all over the Jammu & Kashmir State and even from outside.
Kheer Bhawani is considered to be the Presiding Deity of most of the Kashmiri Brahmans.KNZ
