Thousands of KPs throng Jammu-based Mata Kheer Bhawani temple
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jj correspondent
Jammu, May 28: Amid Vedic chants and ringing of bells, thousands of Kashmiri Pandits on Sunday paid obeisance at the revered temple of Ragnya Devi (Mata Kheer Bhawani) Temple situated at Bhawani Nagar in Janipur area here on the occasion of Kheer Bhawani festival.
The members of the fraternity prayed for peace in the region at the temple and sought blessings.
The devotees offered flowers to the idols of Mata Kheer Bhawani installed as the replica of a temple in Tulmulla village of Ganderbal district in Srinagar.
Long queues were seen outside the temple and devotees including young and the old, were waiting for their turn to pay obeisance.
“We wanted to visit the original Kheer Bhawani Temple in Ganderbal and offer prayers but the replica installed here also has equal significance,” a Kashmiri Hindu devotee standing in a queue said.
He however, said that he had offered prayers for restoration of normalcy and peace forever in Jammu and Kashmir and hoped that the displaced Kashmiri Hindus may soon return to their homeland.
Meanwhile tight security arrangements were made for smooth conduct of the celebrations. However, on May 26 a batch of 4500 members of Kashmiri Pandit community left from Nagrota in Jammu for annual Kheer Bhawani mela in Kashmir.
The annual Mela was celebrated on Zeisht Ashtami on Sunday at the shrines of Tulmulla in Ganderbal district of Kashmir.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha also extended heartiest greetings to the people on the eve of the auspicious occasion of Jyeshtha Ashtami.
In his message, Sinha said, “Heartiest greetings to the people, especially to sisters and brothers from Kashmiri Pandit community, on the auspicious occasion of Jyeshtha Ashtami. Prayers to Mata Kheer Bhawani for well-being, peace and prosperity for all.”
The congregation of devotees from across the world at Mata Kheer Bhawani Temple to pay obeisance and the festivity symbolizes our rich spiritual and cultural heritage and an inspiration for living a virtuous life, the Lt Governor said.
“May the blessings of Mata Kheer Bhawani continue to guide us in the path of righteousness and shower her blessings on all for years to come,” the Lt Governor prayed. UNI
