New Delhi: The auspicious festival of Jyestha Atham, also known as Jyestha Ashtami, is majorly celebrated by Kashmiri Pandits. The day, also known as Jyeshtha Ashtami, falls on the eighth day of the bright half of the month of Jyeshtha (May-June). In 19 long years, this year least number of devotees visited Mata Kheer Bhavani Temple.
Most of the Kashmir Pandits boycotted the festival. Two years later, Mela Kheer Bhavani started with less number of devotees in the last 19 years. The annual religious festival at Tulmula Ganderbal Temple which is known as “Mela Mata Kheer Bhavani” Recent days have seen the impact of targeted killings of Kashmiri Pandits and non-locals.
Back in 2019, the number stood at around 12,000 devotees who performed the puja, however due to extreme fear following back-to-back killings of minorities in the past four weeks, the annual fair was heavily affected and the temple numbers were around 2. -3 thousand including tourist.
Many Kashmiri Pandits have boycotted the fair, citing the government’s inability to provide a sense of security. In Vesu Anantnag and Sheikh Pora Budgam, KP rebuked the government by saying that the transport provided by the vacant government had been returned.
Sanjay Kaul (PM Package Employee, resident of Vesu Pravasi camp) said, “Very few Kashmir Pandits had reached. All Kashmir Pandits have faith in Mata and hope her blessings will always be on us, we apologize to Mata that we included This time he has a temple, otherwise in last 12 years we never missed this festival, two days back we were there, but this time all camp residents are not going to Kheer Bhawani because of administration, many reasons for this Yes, one big reason is the killing of kashmiri pandits so we are protesting and not going to the temple and secondly how am i safe in kheer bhavani when i am not safe in my camp, mother bless everyone Keep it.”
BJP leader Nanaji Dembi, a Kashmiri Pandit from Kupwara, agreed that the attendance of devotees is less this time due to fear, but hoped that the brotherhood between Hindus and Muslims would give a befitting reply to the terrorist elements and urged the Muslims to appealed to come. Take to the streets and condemn such acts by terrorists. His wife Rajni Dembi, who is associated with the BJP, is the sarpanch of Tregam district in Kupwara, North Kashmir.
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti blamed the BJP-led central government for this atmosphere, saying, “Recently Rahul Bhat and others belonging to minorities were targeted and killed, it is clear that devotees in the temple The numbers will be less, I hope things win.” This will not be so, the time will change again and the pundits will again celebrate the fair with full enthusiasm in the coming times.”
Meanwhile, special prayers were offered at the holy shrine for communal harmony and brotherhood amidst fear and chaos. There is always a hint of communal harmony at this temple during the historic festival, providing an opportunity for local Muslims, who eagerly await to be reunited with the Pandit community who migrated from Kashmir in the early 1990s. .