Amid tight security and in the shadow of a recent attack in Pahalgam, thousands of devotees gathered at the revered Mata Kheer Bhawani temple in Tulmulla, Ganderbal, to mark Jyeshtha Ashtami, one of the most significant religious festivals for the Kashmiri Pandit community.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha paid obeisance at the shrine and described the large turnout as a “good sign.” “This is the first time since April 22 that such a large crowd has gathered. The devotees’ presence shows faith is stronger than fear,” Sinha told reporters. He assured that adequate arrangements had been made for the mela and confirmed preparations for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra beginning July 3.
The Kheer Bhawani Mela, celebrated at five temples across Jammu and Kashmir, witnessed an especially emotional congregation at Tulmulla, where the sacred temple of Ragnya Devi was decorated and thronged by pilgrims.
Leaders across party lines visited the shrine and hailed the turnout as a message of unity and defiance against violence. National Conference President Farooq Abdullah said the gathering was a “befitting reply” to those trying to create communal discord. “Mata herself has called them home,” he said, expressing hope for the return of Kashmiri Pandits.
J&K Congress chief Tariq Hameed Karra echoed the sentiment, saying the presence of people from all faiths — Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians — reflects Kashmir’s enduring spirit of brotherhood. He stressed the need to politically empower Pandits through reserved assembly seats for natural reintegration.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader and former CM Mehbooba Mufti also visited the shrine. Shesaid that any political resolution for Jammu and Kashmir would remain incomplete without the respectful return of the Pandit community. “There is no military solution. We need a political process — one that includes Kashmiri Pandits as equal stakeholders,” she said.
On Monday, Mufti submitted an “inclusive and phased roadmap” to LG Sinha for the return and rehabilitation of the Pandit community, urging for a sincere effort toward building a shared and inclusive future.
Despite recent security concerns, over 60 buses carrying devotees arrived from Jammu, underscoring both faith and resilience. The temples — including those at Tulmulla (Ganderbal), Manzgam and Devsar (Kulgam), Logripora (Anantnag), and Tikkar (Kupwara) — hosted thousands of pilgrims, with chants, rituals, and community meals offering a glimpse of the Valley’s spiritual harmony.
