GANDERBAL, June 10: Ganderbal district today was a grand display of communal harmony in Kashmir. Over one lakh people thronged the twin religious festivals of Kheer Bhawani Mela for Hindus and Babanagri Urs for Muslims in the district.
According to officials, 72,000 mostly Kashmiri Pandit devotees from across India thronged to Tullmulla to participate in the annual Mela Khirbhawani, while more than 80,000 Muslims attended the two-day urs at Babanagri Kangan.
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Talking to Kashmir Times, a devotee from Jammu Rakesh said, “It is a healthy and lively sign of Kashmiriyat. The locals here provide us everything we need. They feel incomplete without us and so do we without them”.
A local, Showkat Ahmad Bhat from Awami Behbood Committee Tullmulla was busy offering juice to the devotees at a stall.
According to officials, 72,000 mostly Kashmiri Pandit devotees from across India thronged to Tullmulla to participate in the annual Mela Khirbhawani, while more than 80,000 Muslims attended the two-day urs at Babanagri Kangan.
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Talking to Kashmir Times, a devotee from Jammu Rakesh said, “It is a healthy and lively sign of Kashmiriyat. The locals here provide us everything we need. They feel incomplete without us and so do we without them”.
A local, Showkat Ahmad Bhat from Awami Behbood Committee Tullmulla was busy offering juice to the devotees at a stall.
Fayaz Ahmad Bhat, who had installed a stall inside the shrine premises selling the items meant for the Puja looked cheerful doing brisk business. “I hope this business will grow further every year,” said Bhat.
“Mela Khirbhawani is the LIVE example of Hindu-Muslim harmony and has no parallel in any part of the world,” said Chairman of United Kashmiriyat Forum, Bharat Raina.
Kheer Bhawani temple of Godess Ragnya has become one of the main annual attractions for displaced Kashmiri Pandits.
“Mela Khirbhawani is the LIVE example of Hindu-Muslim harmony and has no parallel in any part of the world,” said Chairman of United Kashmiriyat Forum, Bharat Raina.
Kheer Bhawani temple of Godess Ragnya has become one of the main annual attractions for displaced Kashmiri Pandits.
Every year some one from the new generation of the minority Kashmiri Hindus makes the pilgrimage to Tullamulla for the first time.
Ajay Koul of Jammu, originally hailing from Sheikhpora Budgam who participated in today’s Mela Khirbhawani was one such first timer. His maiden visit to this famous shrine was only possible because of a government job he has recently got as compensation to return.
“I would definitely have visited here before but the financial security was a big hindrance for me,” Ajay, 29, told Kashmir Times.
“I would definitely have visited here before but the financial security was a big hindrance for me,” Ajay, 29, told Kashmir Times.
He said all the Pandits who have migrated from valley in 1989 afterwards would definitely return if provided the special package including the financial security.
“See, I am here for the first time. And that is because of teacher job I have recently got as a migrant. Any special packages from the government aimed at the welfare of the Pandit community including the financial assistance will definitely paves a way for the return of Pandits,”, he said.
Ajay, who is now working as a teacher in one of the government schools in Srinagar before visiting Mata Khirbhawani at Tullmulla first made his way to Dastageer Sahab Khanyar and then to Dargah Hazratbal. After visiting these two places, he finally visited Tullmulla.
Echoing Ajay, Sandeep from Jammu originally hailing from (Anantnag) Islamabad said that the youth are definitely intended to return to their motherland. “We are emotionally integrated with our motherland Kashmir and any green signal in the form of job and other securities will definitely coax us to move back here”, he said.
“It was not only Pandits who suffered because of 1989 turmoil, but Muslims also did. My local Muslim friend at Islamabad is calling me everyday to return as he is even today feeling incomplete without me,” another youth said.
“See, I am here for the first time. And that is because of teacher job I have recently got as a migrant. Any special packages from the government aimed at the welfare of the Pandit community including the financial assistance will definitely paves a way for the return of Pandits,”, he said.
Ajay, who is now working as a teacher in one of the government schools in Srinagar before visiting Mata Khirbhawani at Tullmulla first made his way to Dastageer Sahab Khanyar and then to Dargah Hazratbal. After visiting these two places, he finally visited Tullmulla.
Echoing Ajay, Sandeep from Jammu originally hailing from (Anantnag) Islamabad said that the youth are definitely intended to return to their motherland. “We are emotionally integrated with our motherland Kashmir and any green signal in the form of job and other securities will definitely coax us to move back here”, he said.
“It was not only Pandits who suffered because of 1989 turmoil, but Muslims also did. My local Muslim friend at Islamabad is calling me everyday to return as he is even today feeling incomplete without me,” another youth said.
