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| Mela Kheer Bhawani invigorates bonds of Hindu-Muslim amity | | Beyond political buzz over KPs' return | | S.Tahir-Ul Haq
Early Times Report
GANDERBAL, May 26: With political din over return of Kashmiri pandits to the valley climaxing of late, the annual Kheer Bhawani mela in the revered temple of Rajnya Devi at Tulmulla Ganderbal in central Kashmir on Tuesday witnessed emotional scenes with Muslims greeting and hugging Kashmiri Pandits, majority of whom expressed desire to return and hoped that the Modi government would take measures to ensure their return to the roots.
Hundreds of Pandits, who had migrated from the Valley after eruption of militancy in 1989, visited the shrine on the annual festival (Jyestha Ashtami) and held special prayers.
Amid the hymns and bells, men and women, young and old, paid obeisance at the temple dedicated to the goddess Rajnya Devi, popularly known as Kheer Bhawani.
The devotees offered milk and "kheer" (pudding) to the sacred spring surrounded by the Chinar trees within the temple complex. The devotees were also showering rose petals and lighting earthen lamps in the temple.
Muslims had set up stalls of flowers and other material near the temple for the devotees. The Muslims also visited the temple in large numbers and greeted the Pandits.
A local resident of Pandach Ganderbal Nazir Ahmad said that, "I am so happy to see them return to the temple after one year. They are our brethren and today we feel very delighted. We hope that they will return soon and live with us again as they used to some 25 years ago.
Pandits living in Jammu and other parts of the country visit the Kheer Bhawani mela annually.
Pandits living in Jammu must return to Kashmir valley and live with our Muslim brethren here. We hope the Modi government in Delhi would make sincere efforts for their dignified return to the Valley.
A group of Kashmiri pundits who were living in Mungam Wagoora in Baramulla district of North Kashmir shared their views with early times and said that "We fled the Valley and migrated to other parts of the country owing to violence.
Right now we are living in Jammu and we want to return our mother land, and want to live with our Muslim brethren in Kashmir. We don't want to live in separate colonies," they said.
They said the central and state governments should facilitate their dignified return to the Valley. Today pandits prayed for the return of peace in Kashmir. "Peace is must for our return to the Valley.
Meanwhile Minister for Law and Parliamentary and Relief and Rehabilitation Syed Basharat Bukhari and other officials also visited the Kheer Bhawani and met the devotees. |
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