[In Pictures] Mata Kheer Bhavani Mela In J&K; Culture Lives On As Kashmiri Pandits Throng The Temple In Thousands

On the occasion of annual festival of Mata Kheer Bhavani, thousands of devotees thronged the temple at Tulmulla in Ganderbal of central Kashmir, 14 km east of Srinagar, reports Greater Kashmir. The Mela is observed on the Ashtami of Shukla Paksha or waxing phase of moon in Jyesht.

The term kheer refers to a sweet rice pudding offered to the deity. As is common with Hindu deities, the Devi famous as Kheer Bhavani has multiple names. She is also known as Maharagya Devi, Ragnya Devi, Rajni, Ragnya Bhagwati.

Pilgrims thronged the temple from all over the country. Walking barefoot, they made offerings of rose petals and kheer, and took a dip in the holy kund. The administration had put up necessary arrangements for the heavy crowd during the fair.

The temple often referred to as the most important temple for the Kashmiri Hindus in the state is constructed over a sacred spring, which is believed to have water changing colours. The water with blackish hue is considered a mark of inauspicious times in the state.

BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav and MLCs Surinder Ambardar and Ajay Bharti, National Congress (NC) President Abdullah, Congress state president Ghulam Ahmed Mir, senior NC leader Dr Sameer Kaul, IAS-turned-politician Shah Faesal also visited the shrine.

The mention of Kheer Bhawani is found in Kalhana's Rajtarangini. He writes that the sacred spring of Tulmulla is situated on a marshy ground. The name of the spring is Mata Ragini Kund. The site is also mentioned in Ain-i-Akbari by Abul Fazl. Swami Rama Tirtha and Swami Vivekananda also visited the temple.

The mythology behind the temple goes back to times of Ramayana, when Ravana is said to have pleased the Goddess with offering of kheer. While the Mother resided in Lanka at the request of Ravana, she soon left the place when he became vicious and licentious. She then instructed Lord Hanuman to get the image from Sri Lanka and install it at the holy spot of Tulmulla.