SRINAGAR: The annual pilgrimage to the revered Mata Kheer Bhawani shrine commenced on Sunday, with hundreds of Kashmiri Pandits returning to the Valley amid tight security. This year’s Mela, one of the most significant religious events for the displaced community, is being held under the shadow of the recent Pahalgam massacre and heightened tensions along the Line of Control.
The first official batch of 18 pilgrims began their journey early Sunday from Udhampur, flagged off in a brief but spirited ceremony at the Deputy Commissioner’s office complex. Tehsildar Jai Singh interacted with the pilgrims and sent them off with prayers for peace, prosperity, and national unity. Their destination: the shrine of goddess Ragnya Devi at Tulmulla in Ganderbal district, where the main gathering will take place on June 3.
In a larger and more symbolic show of faith, a convoy of 60 buses carrying hundreds of pilgrims, mostly Kashmiri Pandits, was flagged off from Nagrota, on the outskirts of Jammu, by Relief Commissioner (Migrants) Arvind Karwani and Deputy Commissioner Jammu Sachin Kumar Vaishya. Senior police officers and security personnel were also present at the departure, with strict measures in place along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.
The Kheer Bhawani Mela, held annually at Tulmulla (Ganderbal) sees devotees perform darshan and offer kheer (rice pudding) to the deity. This year, attendance is visibly thinner, a reflection of apprehensions lingering in the wake of the attack in Pahalgam. Nonetheless, the devotion remains undeterred.
The security apparatus has left little to chance. Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police, Nalin Prabhat, visited the Tulmulla temple on Sunday to oversee arrangements. He was accompanied by senior police officers from Ganderbal, where he also offered prayers. Days earlier, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, VK Birdi, had directed district officials to maintain “the highest level of alertness” and ensure all amenities were in place to facilitate a smooth pilgrimage.
“Robust access control, strong coordination with paramilitary forces, and traffic management systems are in place,” Birdi said. He reviewed security at and around the temple premises, assessed parking and crowd movement plans, and ensured that lodging and other facilities were adequate.
Despite the elaborate arrangements, the scale of participation remains below pre-pandemic and pre-conflict levels. “We have fewer devotees this year,” a police officer said. “Understandably, many are cautious. But our message is clear: there is nothing to fear.”
As the devotees converge at the main shrine at Tulmulla, the spiritual significance of the festival stands undiminished, even if the crowds are smaller. For many, it is a symbol of hope, faith, and the resilience of a community that continues to seek return and reconnection, not just with a place, but with an identity long disrupted.
The pilgrims will perform rituals and prayers at the temples on Tuesday and are expected to return to Jammu the following day. Authorities say that barring any unforeseen circumstances, the festival will conclude peacefully.
