More than 9,000 pilgrims, predominantly members of the Kashmiri Pandit community, departed from Jammu on Saturday for the revered Kheer Bhawani Temple in Kashmir to participate in the annual Kheer Bhawani Mela.
Officials said the number of devotees taking part in the pilgrimage has increased significantly this year, raising expectations of a large turnout at the religious festival. The Kheer Bhawani Mela is one of the most important spiritual and cultural events for Kashmiri Pandits and attracts devotees from across the country.
The pilgrims were transported to the Kashmir Valley in around 200 buses operated by the Jammu and Kashmir Road Transport Corporation (JKRTC). Authorities made elaborate security arrangements for the yatra, with security personnel deployed along the route to ensure the safe movement of pilgrims.
The annual festival is celebrated at the historic Kheer Bhawani Temple in Tulmulla, Ganderbal district, where devotees offer prayers and seek blessings of Goddess Ragnya Devi. The mela holds deep religious significance and serves as a symbol of faith and cultural heritage for the Kashmiri Pandit community.
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