New Delhi: kashmir - SRINAGAR/JAMMU' target='_blank' title='jammu and kashmir-Latest Updates, Photos, Videos are a click away, CLICK NOW'>jammu and kashmir Lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha and leader Minister omar abdullah on monday extended greetings to the people on the occasion of mela kheer Bhawani, with cm Abdullah expressing the wish that the displaced Kashmiri Pandit network will return to the valley with honor and dignity.

The festival is officially celebrated on Jyestha Ashtami, on Tuesday.

In a profound show of religion and resilience, loads of Kashmiri Pandit devotees launched into a sacred pilgrimage early sunday morning from Nagrota, close to Jammu, to participate in the annual kheer Bhawani Mela. The devotees, undeterred with the aid of the volatile protection state of affairs in kashmir following the april 22 pahalgam terror assault, are wearing out the pilgrimage with full devotion.

The kheer Bhawani mela holds special significance in the lives of Kashmiri Pandits. Dozens of devotees from across india accumulate to look for benefits from kheer Bhawani Mata and perform rituals to enhance their cultural identity. The fair acts as an image of resilience for the displaced participants of the Kashmiri Pandit community. The Pandits were upholding the traditions of the community notwithstanding the risky situation in the valley for the reason that it was the nineties.

Cultural significance of kheer Bhawani

Kheer Bhawani is the shrine of Goddess Ragnya, who's believed to be an incarnation of Goddess Durga. According to legend, Ravana of Lanka changed into a disciple of Goddess Ragnya; however, the goddess, uninterested in the king’s lifestyle, ordered her seat to be shifted to a miles-off location.

Located in Tullamulla city, the sanctum sanctorum of the temple is positioned inside the middle of a holy spring that is taken into consideration auspicious with the aid of Kashmiri Pandits. The shade of the spring at the deity’s feet is thought to predict destiny occasions—crimson or milky water is seen as propitious, even as black is taken into consideration as a signal of catastrophe. It's widely stated that the coloration of the spring turned black when Pakistani tribal raiders invaded Kashmir.

Each year, the festival is widely known on Jyestha Ashtami. kheer is offered to the deity by means of devotees, hence the name Mata kheer Bhawani. Even after the exodus of the neighborhood Pandit community because of armed war and terrorism, the community keeps accumulating to seek blessings from the goddess.

CM Omar prays for peace and harmony in Kashmir.

Rakesh Kaul, a devotee, expressed the network's resilience in the face of ongoing demanding situations. "Kashmiri Pandits eagerly wait for the day when we will go to Mata kheer Bhawani. We have known this fear for 36 years," Kaul said, referencing the pahalgam assault that centered tourists, along with Hindu pilgrims.

The mela also helps sow the seeds of communal concord, as nearby Kashmiri Muslims also assist inside the preparations, symbolizing harmony and brotherhood among the 2 communities.

“The leader minister prayed for peace, harmony, development, and prosperity within the kingdom and urged all sections of society to strengthen the age-old bonds of togetherness and mutual respect,” the spokesperson stated.