SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday reviewed arrangements for the annual Kheer Bhawani Mela at Tulmulla in Ganderbal district and assured that all pending works identified during the inspection would be completed before the festival begins on June 22.
Speaking to reporters during his visit to the revered shrine of Mata Kheer Bhawani, Abdullah said devotees from across the country and different parts of the world are expected to participate in the annual mela to seek blessings of the deity.
“June 22 is the auspicious occasion of Kheer Bhawani Mela. People from all over the world will gather here to have darshan of the Goddess and seek her blessings. As the MLA here, I have come to see how the arrangements are, what preparations are being made and what remains to be done,” the Chief Minister said.
He said discussions were held with priests and other stakeholders associated with the shrine. “After talking to the priests here, I have found out that two to three things are needed. We will try to complete these works before June 22,” he added.
Abdullah said he had visited the shrine both as Chief Minister and as the local legislator to assess preparations on the ground and ensure that devotees face no inconvenience during the annual pilgrimage.
The annual Kheer Bhawani Mela, one of the most important religious events for the Kashmiri Pandit community, will be observed on June 22. Authorities have made elaborate security and logistical arrangements for the festival, with more than 7,000 devotees, mostly migrant Kashmiri Pandits from Jammu, having registered for the pilgrimage.
On the forthcoming Amarnath Yatra, the Chief Minister said the primary responsibility for managing the pilgrimage rests with the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, while the government is extending all necessary support to ensure its smooth conduct.
He expressed hope that pilgrims visiting both Kheer Bhawani and the Amarnath shrine would be able to perform their religious duties comfortably and prayed for peace, harmony and communal brotherhood in Jammu and Kashmir.
Responding to concerns about irrigation in parts of Ganderbal, Abdullah said reports of water scarcity had been received from some areas and that steps were being taken to improve water availability through canals and irrigation channels. He said recent rainfall had eased the situation and added that Irrigation and Flood Control Minister Javed Ahmed Rana would visit the affected areas along with officials to assess the situation and take necessary measures.
Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Karan Singh, who recently visited the shrine, praised Kashmir’s tradition of communal harmony and expressed hope for the return of more Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley. He described the Kheer Bhawani Mela as a symbol of Kashmir’s composite culture and said efforts to facilitate the return of displaced Pandit families would strengthen the region’s social fabric.
