Srinagar: About 4,500 devotees leave for annual Kheer Bhawani mela in Kashmir
Amid tight security arrangements, nearly 4,500 devotees, including members of Kashmiri Pandit community, on Friday left from Nagrota area in the outskirts of Jammu city to attend the annual Kheer Bhawani Mela in Kashmir. The Divisional Commissioner Jammu Ramesh Kumar, Relief Commissioner K.K Sidha and prominent Kashmiri Pandit leaders jointly flagged off the yatra from Nagrota at Jammu.
The four day pilgrimage commenced on Friday as the annual Kheer Bhawani Mela, celebrated on Zeisht Ashtami, will take place on May 28 at the shrines of Tulmulla (Ganderbal), Tikker (Kupwara), Laktipora Aishmuqam (Anantnag), Mata Tripursundri Devsar (Kulgam), and Mata Kheerbhawani Manzgam (Kulgam) in the Kashmir valley.
The relief department, administration, and security forces have made comprehensive arrangements to ensure the success of this pilgrimage. This year, an estimated 60 to 70 thousand migrant Kashmiri Pandits from various parts of the country and abroad are expected to visit the five renowned temples in the Valley during the annual fair.
The administration has implemented rigorous security measures, including sniffer dogs, metal detectors, and thorough verification of devotees. A large number of security personnel are escorting the yatra, ensuring the safety of the pilgrims.
