Srinagar, June 3: Political leaders across party lines hailed the massive turnout of devotees, especially Kashmiri Pandits, at the Mela Kheer Bhawani as a powerful symbol of courage, faith, and communal harmony in the wake of the deadly Pahalgam terror attack.
Celebrated on ‘Zyeth Atham’ (Jyeshtha Ashtami), the annual fair at the revered Ragnya Devi temple in Tulmulla saw thousands of devotees, including those who travelled in a 60-bus convoy from Jammu, gather under heavy security.
National Conference president Farooq Abdullah called the participation of Kashmiri Pandits a “befitting reply” to those attempting to instill fear and divide communities. “This is the work of the Goddess. She has brought her children back home,” he said, expressing hope that the mela marks the beginning of the Pandits’ return to the Valley. “Fear is ending, and brotherhood is winning,” he added.
Echoing the sentiment, J&K Congress chief Tariq Hameed Karra praised the inclusive spirit of the event, which saw Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians come together. Calling for political empowerment of the Pandits, Karra advocated for reserved seats to ensure meaningful reintegration. “We don’t want cosmetic solutions; we want real political inclusion,” he said.
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader Mehbooba Mufti also visited the shrine, underlining that the return of Kashmiri Pandits with dignity was essential for any political solution in Jammu and Kashmir. “There is no military solution. A political process must include the Pandits as equal stakeholders,” she said.
Mufti revealed that she had submitted a phased roadmap for the return of the displaced community to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, urging the administration to view their reintegration as part of a shared and inclusive future.
Lieutenant Governor Sinha, who also offered prayers at the temple, welcomed the crowd, calling their presence “a positive sign” in the aftermath of the April 22 terror attack that claimed 26 lives, mostly tourists. He assured that robust security and logistical arrangements had been made for the devotees.
The Mela Kheer Bhawani was celebrated not only in Tulmulla (Ganderbal) but also at four other Ragnya Bhagwati shrines in Manzgam and Devsar (Kulgam), Logripora (Anantnag), and Tikkar (Kupwara). The temple complex in Tulmulla, adorned with decorations and nestled under grand chinar trees, witnessed a multi-faith convergence and a reaffirmation of Kashmir’s spiritual and cultural unity. (With KINS inputs)