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Mela Kheer Bhawani

Young Bites. Dated: 6/20/2018 11:47:00 AM

The Goddess Mata Ragnya Devi is symbolised as a sacred spring at Tula Mula village, near (27 kms) Srinagar, Kashmir in J&K India. The spring of Kheer Bhawani is quite large and has always been held in veneration by the Brahman population of Srinagar.The Temple, dedicated to the Goddess Mata Kheer Bhawani has been constructed over a Sacred Spring. Within the spring is a marble Temple. The Temple-Spring complex is affectionately known as Kheer Bhawani as thousands of devotees offer milk and 'kheer' to the Sacred Spring.The devotees of the Goddess Mata Kheer Bhawani fast and gather here on the eighth day of the full moon in the month of June when, according to belief, the Goddess changes the colour of the spring's waters, which are ascribed to different manifestations of the Goddess Mata Kheer Bhawani. Turning of the colour into shades of black is supposed to signal approaching disaster.Some people say that before the exodus of the Pandits (Kashmiri Brahmans) from Kashmir the colour had turned completely black.According to the legend, there were 360 springs surrounding the main spring but all of these seem to have disappeared as the land has become marshy all around.In the last half century, the pilgrimage has become the most important for Kashmiri Brahmans who come here from all over the Jammu & Kashmir State and even from outside.Kheer Bhawani is considered to be the Presiding Deity of most of the Kashmiri Brahmans.Located 18 miles north of capital Srinagar, the Kheer Bhawani shrine at Tulmula, attracts thousands of people from all over the country.The Goddess Ragnya Devi is symbolised as a sacred spring at Tula Mula village .The kheer bhawani temple is dedicated to the Goddess Rajnya Devi, popularly known as Kheer Bhawani. The devotees of the Goddess fast and gather here on the eighth day of the full moon in the month of June in Kashmir when, according to belief, the Goddess changes the colour of the spring's waters, which are ascribed to different manifestations of the Goddess. Turning of the colour into shades of black is supposed to signal approaching disaster.According to the legend, there were 360 springs surrounding the main spring but all of these seem to have disappeared as the land has become marshy all around. Devotees believe that the colour of the spring inside the shrine, annually predicts Kashmir's future. Legend says that Mata Ragnya flew from Sri Lanka during Demon king Ravana's reign, to Kashmir and established her seat beside a spring in the then Tullamulla village. It is at this temple that the age-old tradition of communal harmony comes to the forefront as the local Muslims set up stalls for the convenience of Kashmiri Pandits who visit the shrine, and have been traditionally welcoming their Pandit brothers with milk during the festival.Some people say that before the exodus of the Pandits (Kashmiri Brahmans) from Kashmir the colour had turned completely black in 1990!Around 250,000 devotees, mostly migrant Hindus, participate in a 'Maha Yagna', a traditional offering, at the shrine. He directed the concerned authorities to ensure cleanliness in and around the shrine.Kheer Bhavani Mela is annual fair and festival held at Kheer Bhavani temple at Tullamula in Srinagar district of Kashmir. In 2018, Kheer Bhavani Mela date is June 20.It is a fair organized to please Goddess Ragnya Devi, the presiding deity of the temple. The fair is celebrated on Jyeshta Shukla Astami, eighth day in bright phase of Jyeshta month. Kheer Bhavani Mela is a major festival for Kashmiri pundits’ community. They gather in large numbers to offer pujas and nivedans (food offerings) to Goddess Ragnya Devi. Kheer, a sweet recipe, is offered specially to the Goddess on the day. Thousands of migrant Kashmiri Pandits have started arriving at the temple in Tulmulla in Ganderbal district for the fair.Jammu and Kashmir government has announced free transport service for the devotees from Delhi and Jammu to the temple and back to attract more Kashmiri Pandits to the mela to be celebrated on June 20.Khir Bhawani Yatra celebrates the discovery of the holy spring by a pious Brahmin. For some, the festival celebrates the arrival of Mata Ragnya (Khir Bhawani) to the valley.Legend has it that the idol of Goddess Bhawani was brought to Tula Mula Village by Lord Hanuman from Lanka after the epic battle in Ramayana. However, for many of them, the annual pilgrimage to this temple is a sort of homecoming, a return to their roots.It is at Kheer Bhawani temple that the age-old tradition of communal harmony comes to the fore front as the local Muslims set up stalls for the convenience of Kashmiri Pandits who visit the temple. In the last half century the pilgrimage has become the most important for Kashmiri Brahmans who come here from all over the State and even from outside. Kheer Bhawani is considered to be the Presiding Deity of most of the Kashmiri Brahmans. The migrant Pandits are sons of the soil. They do not need to register or take permission for the pilgrimage,” the minister said, adding that the migrant Pandits could come at any time, like any other state subject of Jammu and Kashmir. A large number of devotees are expected to visit the holy temple from 19 June 2018 and will stay there till the conclusion of the Mela. Besides District Administration has kept ferry vehicles available at Central University parking slot as well as outside the Mata Kheer Bhawani Temple for carrying the devotees from Parking slots to the Temple and vice versa.