Mela Kheer Bhawani begins in Jammu and Kashmir after two years

Tags: State News

The annual Mata Kheer Bhavani Mela began on June 8 at Tullamulla village in Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir, with Kashmiri Pandits and tourists paying obeisance at the Kheer Bhavani temple.

• Kheerbhawani Temple

• The temple is dedicated to Goddess Ragya Devi.

• The temple is located 30 km from the city of Srinagar, it is one of the holiest pilgrimage sites for Kashmiri Hindus.

• The temple gets its name from kheer, or milk and rice pudding, which is offered by pilgrims inside the temple premises as prasad to the goddess.

• The Kheerbhawani Mela is the largest gathering of Hindus in Kashmir after the annual Amarnath Yatra.

• Legend has it that the water in the spring of the temple changes from white to red and black.

• The colour of water is said to predict the imminent future.

• If the water turns black, it is seen as inauspicious or an impending disaster.

• Kashmiri Pandits say that the water turned black before they were forced to flee Kashmir during the 1990 insurgency.