J-K: Around 9,000 pilgrims depart from Nagrota for Annual Mata Kheer Bhawani Mela amid tight security
Nagrota, June 20
Around 9,000 pilgrims on Saturday departed in nearly 200 buses from Nagrota in Jammu for the annual Mata Kheer Bhawani Mela and other yatras to Tikker in Kupwara, Logripora in Anantnag, Devsar and Manzgam in Kulgam districts.
The administration has put in place elaborate security and logistical arrangements to ensure the smooth and hassle-free transit of devotees to their respective destinations.
Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner Arvind Karwani said that multiple agencies, including the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), Jammu and Kashmir Police, and the Army, were working in coordination to ensure the safety of pilgrims throughout the journey.
"We tried to make security arrangements better than the previous year. The Yatra is leaving today, and until the pilgrims reach their destinations safely, everyone, including the CAPF, the J&K Police, and the Army, is working together to ensure this is a great arrangement, deploying every standard gadget and all the required forces," Karwani told ANI.
Meanwhile, BJP MLA Devyani Rana flagged off devotees from the old toll post in Nagrota, located at the foothills of the Kol Kandoli Mata Temple, and extended her best wishes to the pilgrims.
"We are sending people off for darshan from the Old toll post in Nagrota, which is at the foot of the Kol Kandoli Mata Temple. I hope that all the devotees leaving from here have a successful and pleasant journey," Rana told ANI.
She further highlighted the arrangements made for devotees through a community service initiative.
"It is fortunate that today, through the 'Jeeyo Geeta Sansthanam', with the blessings of our revered Gyan Ji Maharaj, a grand langar is being organised here. Through this, food and drink arrangements have been made for all the devotees leaving today. I hope that our devotees will begin their journey this morning with an open mind and open heart," she said.
The Mata Kheer Bhawani annual mela takes place at the famous Ragnya Devi temple in the village Tulmulla, 25 kilometres off Srinagar.
'Kheer', a milk and rice pudding, is offered to propitiate the goddess. Kheer Bhawani is sometimes translated as 'Milk Goddess'. The worship of Kheer Bhawani is universal among the Hindus of Kashmir; most of them worship her as their protective patron deity, Kuladevi.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Faith moves mountains! 🌄 My grandmother used to tell me stories about Kheer Bhawani and the sacred spring at Tulmulla. Happy that despite everything, our Kashmiriyat and shared heritage continue to thrive. Hope everyone has a blessed yatra.
The coordination between CAPF, J&K Police, and Army is commendable. But I also hope we focus on long-term peace so that such yatras don't require such massive security every year. Our soldiers are sacrificing so much for our safety. Salute to them. 🫡
Wonderful tradition! I've studied Indian culture and the Kheer Bhawani festival is fascinating. The symbolism of offering kheer (rice pudding) to the goddess represents purity and devotion. Glad to see the administration enabling this pilgrimage despite the challenges. 🇮🇳
Mata Kheer Bhawani is the Kuladevi of Kashmiri Pandits. The fact that this mela is happening despite the challenges shows the resilience of our culture. But I wish we could also see more efforts to bring back the displaced Kashmiri Pandits to their homeland. That would be true restoration.
Impressive logistical effort: 200 buses, 9,000 pilgrims, multiple security layers. This is a testament to India's commitment to religious freedom and cultural preservation. The langar (community kitchen) mentioned in the article is also a beautiful example of seva (selfless service). 🙌
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