Tulmulla, June 22: Thousands of devotees on Monday participated in the annual Mela Kheer Bhawani at the revered Ragnya Devi Temple in Tulmulla village of Ganderbal district, one of the most significant religious occasions for the Kashmiri Pandit community.
Devotees from different parts of Jammu and Kashmir as well as other regions of the country thronged the shrine from the early morning hours to offer prayers on the occasion of Jyeshtha Ashtami. The annual congregation was marked by religious rituals, prayers and offerings at the sacred spring dedicated to Goddess Ragnya Devi, also known as Mata Kheer Bhawani.
The mela is regarded as one of the most important religious events of the Kashmiri Pandit community and is traditionally observed at Tulmulla besides other Ragnya Bhagwati shrines located in Kulgam, Anantnag and Kupwara districts.
Officials had put in place extensive arrangements for the smooth conduct of the annual congregation. Facilities relating to accommodation, drinking water, sanitation, transport, healthcare and other essential services were established for visiting devotees.
A comprehensive security arrangement was also put in place around the shrine and along approach routes. Senior police officers reviewed access control, deployment, traffic regulation and crowd management measures ahead of the congregation.
The shrine at Tulmulla, located about 25 kilometers from Srinagar, is built around a sacred spring and holds immense religious significance for Kashmiri Pandits, many of whom regard Goddess Ragnya Devi as their presiding deity. The annual mela continues to draw devotees from within and outside Jammu and Kashmir. [KNT]
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