Over 5,000 people, from Kashmiri migrant community members, started their journey from various parts of the country for the annual Kheer Bhawani Mela in the Kashmir Valley, officials said.
The mela is held every year to honour the goddess Kheer Bhawani. Pilgrims from across the country gather in the valley to pay their respects and celebrate the festival.
The Kheer Bhawani Mela, celebrated on Zeisht Ashtami, is set to occur on June 14. Apart from Ganderbal, the celebrations will take place at different temples located in Kupwara, Anantnag, Kulgam, and Mata Kheer Bhawani in Manzgam.
The four-day pilgrimage began with Divisional Commissioner (Jammu) Ramesh Kumar, Relief Commissioner Dr Arvind Karwani, and prominent Kashmiri Pandit leaders flagging off the journey from Nagrota on the outskirts of Jammu city.
Singing devotional songs and chanting mantras, the devotees departed in 176 buses for the five renowned shrines in the Kashmir Valley.
“Over 5,000 Kashmiri Pandits have left for Kashmir to take part in Kheer Bhawani Mela. They left Nagrota early today in 176 buses amid tight security arrangements,” Relief Commissioner Dr Arvind Karwani said.
Expressing concern over recent terror attacks in Jammu, “several devotees said, we have spent enough time in fear. How long will we continue to live in the same fear, and we have the protection of Mata with us.”
This year, an estimated 80,000 migrant Kashmiri Pandits from various parts of India and abroad are expected to visit the five renowned temples in the Valley during the annual fair.
Jammu region has seen three or four back-to-back terror attacks over the past three days.
On Sunday, terrorists ambushed a bus carrying pilgrims in Reasi, which resulted in the deaths of nine people and injured 41 others.
In Doda district, five Rashtriya Rifles troopers and a special police officer were injured when terrorists attacked a joint check post in the upper reaches of Chattergalla on the Bhaderwah-Pathankot road.
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