Kupwara, Jun 14 (KNO): The annual Kheer Bhawani festival in frontier Kupwara district saw an emotional and heart-warming reunion, as Kashmiri Pandits from across the Union Territory visited the Valley, many for the first time in the last several decades.
The Pandits expressed their appreciation for the locals as well as administration for ensuring seamless and secure pilgrimage.
Notably, Kheer Bhawani festival, celebrated on Zeisht Ashtami holds great significance for the Kashmiri Pandit community, with the temple dedicated to the goddess Ragnya Devi is considered one of the holiest shrines for Hindus in Kashmir.
Pilgrims expressed optimism and renewed sense of belonging. Many of them hoped the festival would symbolize enduring unity and peace in Kashmir valley.
Speaking on the occasion, the Kashmiri Pandits at Kupwara temple, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) expressed immense gratitude towards local Muslims, the administration as well as the security agencies for their efforts in ensuring a smooth and secure pilgrimage.
“We are feeling refreshed, good and safe here. The security measures and the facilities are excellent. The warm welcome we received, particularly being greeted with fruits by the security personnel, is a unique and heart-warming experience for us,” Chandra Pandita, a Jammu resident said.
Pandita, who originally hails from Watrihani Kupwara, said that she visited after a decade to the valley. The atmosphere here is truly cherishing and brings back fond memories. It fills me with immense joy and nostalgia, she said.
“This is my first visit to Kupwara temple. I am deeply touched by the warmth and the hospitality of the people here. The locals are loving and helpful and at no point do we feel like strangers,” Sumita Bindroo, another devotee said.
Bindroo, originally from Karan Nagar in Srinagar said that she has been to the valley after decades and the experience as well as the atmosphere she got was entirely friendly and brotherly.
The facilities provided are excellent and the respect and the assistance from the security people, administration and especially from the local Muslim community are unforgettable. They ensured we had everything we needed and wanted, she said.
“I pray to Lord for peace in the valley, so that we can reunite with our Muslim friends, brothers and sisters,” Bindroo added.
“It has been decades since we left the valley, and I can see the situation has changed a lot with visible development on the ground. Returning here after 35 years is an emotional and overwhelming experience. I'm happy to reunite with old friends here at Mela,” a devotee originally from Botingoo, South Kashmir said.
It was painful and emotional, she said while recalling the moments of leaving the valley. We are incomplete without the Muslim community. We want to be here forever, she said.
We are thankful to the people of Kashmir who played an important role in making the festival a success and grand. It was not possible for the administration alone to accommodate the thousands of devotees here in Tikker Kupwara, the devotee said.
“I observed our Muslim brothers wholeheartedly opening their homes for us, even though several people stayed there, which is a great and positive step. There is always a brotherhood. What was more fascinating was Kashmiri Dum Aloo and Haakh, which keeps our culture and roots intact,” said Avtar Krsishan, a devotee, who like others had visited the valley after decades.
The festival served as a platform for healing and reconciliation, as many returning Pandits had not visited the valley since their exodus in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
It's worth mentioning that meticulous security measures were put in place to ensure a smooth and secure experience for the Yatris, even as the Kupwara Police chief, Shobhit Saxena had earlier stated that their aim is to maintain and enhance this environment every year.
Kupwara is fortunate enough to have such a great number of devotees and we are hopeful for an even larger surge in the years to come", the SSP earlier said. He said that it sends a clear and loud message that Kupwara is safe for Yatris and devotees—(KNO)