June 12, Jammu: Over 5,000 devotees, predominantly from the Kashmiri Pandit community, commenced their annual pilgrimage to the Kheer Bhawani mela in Kashmir amidst heightened security measures, officials confirmed today.
The four-day pilgrimage was inaugurated today by Divisional Commissioner (Jammu) Ramesh Kumar, Relief Commissioner Dr. Arvind Karwani, and prominent Kashmiri Pandit leaders from the Nagrota area.
In a procession filled with devotion, singing bhajans and chanting mantras, the pilgrims departed in 176 buses bound for five revered shrines in the Kashmir Valley.
Relief Commissioner Dr. Arvind Karwani expressed assurance regarding the security arrangements, highlighting the halt at Ramban for lunch and emphasizing the stringent security measures undertaken for a safe pilgrimage.
A devotee, undeterred by recent terror incidents, expressed, “We do not fear these terrorist attacks. How long will we remain in fear? We have Mata’s (deity’s) protection.”
Kasum Pandita, eagerly anticipating the pilgrimage to Mata Kheerbhawani in Manzgam, echoed this sentiment, stating their enthusiasm outweighs any fear.
The Jammu region recently witnessed multiple terror attacks, including an incident where terrorists targeted a bus carrying pilgrims from Shiv Khori temple to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, resulting in casualties.
Despite these challenges, the annual Kheer Bhawani Mela, celebrated on Zeisht Ashtami, continues to draw devotees. This year, an estimated 80,000 migrant Kashmiri Pandits from various parts of India and abroad are expected to participate in the festivities across the five revered temples in the Valley.
