Kheer Bhawani Festival in Ganderbal: Devotees Flock to Sacred Temple in J&K for Annual Mela

Kheer Bhawani Festival in Ganderbal: Devotees Flock to Sacred Temple in J&K for Annual Mela (PTI image)

The Kheer Bhawani Festival in Ganderbal, Jammu & Kashmir, is a deeply revered religious event for the Kashmiri Pandit community, held annually at the sacred Ragnya Devi Temple in Tulmulla. This year’s mela saw a massive turnout of devotees from across India, reaffirming age-old faith and the enduring spiritual bond shared with this ancient temple.

Dedicated to Goddess Ragnya Devi, an incarnation of Goddess Durga, the Kheer Bhawani Temple is considered one of the holiest sites for Kashmiri Hindus. The temple derives its name from the traditional offering of ‘kheer’ (rice pudding) made with milk, which is offered to the deity during the festival.

The celebration takes place on Jyeshtha Ashtami, a spiritually auspicious day that holds mythological significance. As per legend, Lord Hanuman brought Ragnya Devi from Lanka to Kashmir during the Ramayana era, and the goddess has been worshipped here ever since.

Despite decades of displacement due to the 1990s Kashmir conflict, Kashmiri Pandits have continued to visit the Kheer Bhawani Temple annually. This year, the mela turned into a grand spiritual gathering with improved facilities and heartfelt celebrations. Jagdish Bharadwaj Pandit, a priest at the temple, described the event as Mata’s birthday celebration, bringing together Hindus and Muslims in a show of brotherhood. “This temple is a beacon of unity. The celebrations reflect communal harmony and India’s cultural strength,” he said.

According to Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner Arvind Kirwani, extensive preparations were made for devotees traveling from Jammu. Over 60 buses were flagged off to transport pilgrims safely. Arrangements included accommodation, health facilities, food, and a 10-bedded hospital in Tulmulla. A stopover at Ramban was set up with food and sanitation amenities. Security was also tightened, with paramilitary forces deployed en route and at the shrine to ensure smooth and safe celebrations.

One of the most heartwarming aspects of the festival was the active participation of local Muslim residents, who helped with arrangements, reaffirming the region’s age-old spirit of communal harmony. Local resident Ashok Kumar praised the exceptional facilities this year and highlighted the unity among faiths.

Another devotee, Ratanlal Bali, described the goddess as his Kuldevi (family deity) and emphasized the peaceful environment, saying, “Muslim brothers respect this shrine as much as we do.”

The Kheer Bhawani Mela is not just a religious gathering; it is a symbol of faith, resilience, and cultural revival. For the Kashmiri Pandit community, it stands as a powerful reminder of their roots. For the people of Kashmir, it is a message of unity and coexistence. As devotees offered prayers at the sacred spring and the chants of “Jai Mata Di” echoed through the air, this year’s mela left behind more than spiritual blessings—it rekindled hope, faith, and harmony in the heart of the valley.