Srinagar, Jun 02 (KNS): Kashmiri Pandits Friday thronged the Kheer Bhawani temple in Tulmulla in Gnaderbal district for the annual Zeshta Ashtami festival as chief minister Mehbooba Mufti joins them to pray for peace and return of Kashmir pandits.
Mela Kheer Bhawani is the most important festival of Kashmiri pandits, associated with the Hindu Goddess Ragnya Devi.
Chanting religious hymns, the devotees congregated at the temple and paid their obeisance, with the local Muslims making all the arrangements like providing the material for offerings. The state government had made elaborate security arrangements for the festival.
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti met Kashmiri Pandits at Kheer Bhawani mela and said that day will come soon when Kashmiri Pandits would return to their home respectfully.
Mehbooba, her cabinet colleagues, leaders of her coalition party BJP and opposition parties joined the pandits in paying their obeisance at the revered temple.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
"This is an important day for Kashmiri Pandits. I pray that the day comes soon when Kashmiri Pandits will return to their home respectfully while peace and harmony prevails in Kashmir," she said
Mufti reassured the pandits that the government was committed to give them full security and bring them back to the valley with dignity.
“I saw that there were many children who had not seen Kashmir and know nothing about it as they have not lived here. So, on this occasion, I pray that Jammu and Kashmir is bestowed with peace and happiness and that situation gets better here so that all Kashmiri Pandits return to their homes and live their lives together with us happily,” she said. (KNS)