Hundreds of Kashmiri Pandit devotees converged on the Tulmul temple shrine of Mata Kheer Bhawani in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, 22 June, marking the deity's annual Jyeshtha Ashtami Mela. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha both extended greetings to the community on the sacred occasion.

Devotees Pour In from Across the Country

Pilgrims travelling by all modes of transport began arriving at the shrine from Sunday itself, with scores of vehicles carrying devotees from different parts of India reaching Tulmul by Monday morning. Those who spent the night at the shrine engaged in nightlong prayers, with men, women, and children of the Kashmiri Pandit community honouring a centuries-old tradition — one they have maintained despite their forced migration from the Kashmir Valley in the 1990s amid separatist violence.

Greetings from LG Sinha and CM Abdullah

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha posted his greetings on X on Monday, writing: 'Heartiest greetings to all, especially our Kashmiri Pandit brothers and sisters, on the sacred occasion of Jyeshtha Ashtami. May Mata Kheer Bhawani continue to guide us on the path of righteousness and bless everyone with peace, happiness, good health and prosperity.'

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah conveyed warm wishes to pilgrims, calling the festival 'an occasion of immense spiritual significance' that 'reflects the rich cultural and civilisational heritage of Jammu and Kashmir.' He expressed hope that the sacred occasion would 'further strengthen the bonds of communal harmony, brotherhood and mutual respect among all sections of society,' adding that 'J&K's pluralistic ethos has always drawn strength from its shared traditions and cultural diversity.'

Significance of the Mata Kheer Bhawani Shrine

The Mata Kheer Bhawani temple at Tulmul in Ganderbal district is considered the holiest shrine of the Kashmiri Pandit community. The temple is dedicated to the Hindu goddess Mata Ragnya — also known as Rajna, Devi, Bhagavati, or Mata — and is constructed over a sacred spring. The term 'Kheer' refers to a milk-and-rice pudding traditionally offered to the goddess; the name is sometimes translated as 'Milk Goddess.'

The worship of Kheer Bhawani is near-universal among Kashmiri Pandits, most of whom revere her as their Kuldevi — the protective patron deity of the clan. Devotees hold that the colour of the spring beneath the shrine foretells Kashmir's future: pink is considered auspicious, while black is believed to signal calamity. Elders in Tulmul village recount that the spring reportedly turned black when tribal raiders invaded Kashmir in 1947.

Security and Arrangements

The Omar Abdullah administration made elaborate arrangements for the pilgrimage, covering security, healthcare, sanitation, and accommodation. The entire route from Srinagar city to Tulmul in Ganderbal district was flanked by security forces deployed to protect the devotees. The annual Mela continues to serve as a powerful symbol of the community's enduring bond with their homeland — and of the administration's effort to facilitate that connection.