Latest news with #KashmiriPandit
The Hindu
9 hours ago
- General
- The Hindu
Farooq, Mehbooba, Karra join Pandit devotees at the Mata Kheer Bhawani temple in Kashmir
Prominent Jammu and Kashmir leaders, including Farooq Abdullah of the National Conference (NC), Mehbooba Mufti of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Tariq Hameed Karra of the Congress, on Tuesday joined hundreds of Kashmiri Pandits in paying obeisance at the Mata Kheer Bhawani temple on the occasion of Jyeshta Ashtami, amid the sense of unease and fear that was spread by the recent Pahalgam terror attack. Dr. Abdullah, accompanied by his senior party colleagues, drove to Ganderbal district in central Kashmir in the morning, and joined devotees at the temple. 'We took the blessings of Mata Kheer Bhawani. We are living in harmony; we will be living in harmony. We sent a message of happiness,' the NC president said. Mingling with the Pandit devotees, mainly those who fled the Kashmir Valley in the face of militancy in the 1990s, Dr. Abdullah prayed that the Kheer Bhawani Mela (fair) turn out to be a 'starting point for displaced brothers and sisters to return and settle down in Kashmir again'. 'Land and houses should be provided to Kashmiri Pandits. The government and the Centre should do the needful for their peaceful return. The situation is not the same as when former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh ensured employment for thousands of Kashmiri Pandits by offering them government jobs in Kashmir for their peaceful return,' Dr. Abdullah said. Claiming that there was a sense of fear among devotees visiting the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu after the recent India-Pakistan military confrontation, Dr. Abdullah appealed to people to visit the shrine. 'Don't fear. Visit the shrine,' he said. Ms. Mufti too joined the Pandit devotees in the visit to the shrine, and extended her wishes to the community on the occasion. She also paid floral tributes at the Kheer Bhawani temple pond, which is considered an auspicious ritual by the Pandit community. 'The PDP has always believed that guns or military interventions are not the solution. There should be a political process, that process cannot be completed until our Kashmiri Pandit brothers and sisters return with due respect and settle here,' the former J&K CM said. She said Kashmiri Pandits were an essential part of Kashmir. 'Pandits should return to Kashmir with dignity. They are an integral part of Kashmir. They have stakes in Kashmir,' Ms. Mufti said. Mr. Karra said the mela was 'a reflection of communal harmony, despite attempts to divide'. 'All communities stand united here. It is a reflection of the fact that Mahatma Gandhi also saw a ray of hope in Kashmir at the time of the Partition. Our [late] Prime Minister Manmohan Singh created a package that can still help in resolving the issues of Pandits, and ensuring their dignified return,' Mr. Karra said. The Kheer Bhawani Mela is the first major Hindu festival to take place in the Valley after the Pahalgam terror attack of April 22, which left 26 civilians dead. The incident has cast its shadow on the fair, evident in the thin attendance when compared with 2024. J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, however, termed the gathering a good omen. 'Devotees have come in large numbers to attend the Kheer Bhawani Mela. This is a good sign. This is the first time after April 22 that such a crowd has gathered at a place,' Mr. Sinha said. He said all the preparations for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra, which beings on July 3, were complete. 'Security arrangements have also been finalised. I appeal to devotees from across the country to come and take Baba's (Lord Shiva's) blessings,' Mr. Sinha added. Meanwhile, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, in a statement said an interfaith dialogue 'must evolve into a moral movement rooted in justice — because peace without justice is just a pause, no more'. 'I urged faith leaders to rise above nationalism, protect diversity, and uphold the moral duty of the majorities towards the minorities. From Palestine to Kashmir, only justice, dialogue, and mutual respect can bring lasting peace, and end human suffering,' he said.
United News of India
10 hours ago
- General
- United News of India
Kashmir incomplete without Pandits: Mehbooba Mufti
Srinagar, June 3 (UNI) Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday said that Kashmir is incomplete without the Pandits and they have to play a role for any political process to be completed. She said this after visiting Tulmula in Ganderbal district to greet the Kashmiri Pandit community on the auspicious occasion of Zyesht Ashtami. She was accompanied by the party leadership. 'Jammu and Kashmir is incomplete without them (Pandits). The PDP believes that Jammu and Kashmir issue cannot be solved with guns. There is no military solution, and the gun of militants is also not a solution. There should be a political process," she told reporters in Ganderbal. She said the political process is not possible until the Kashmiri Pandit brothers and sisters return to the Kashmir valley. ' That political process cannot happen until our Kashmiri brothers and sisters come to Kashmir with due respect, settle here and play their role," she said On Monday Mehbooba held her first interaction in five years with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, with the Pandits' return and a safe Amarnath Yatra on top of her agenda. In her meeting with LG, she demanded that two Assembly seats should be reserved for Pandits, and every Pandit family should get half a kanal of free government land. UNI MJR
News18
13 hours ago
- Business
- News18
Mehbooba Mufti Bats For Kashmiri Pandits' Return With 'Inclusive And Phased Roadmap'
Last Updated: Mehbooba called on J&K lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha at the Raj Bhawan in her first one-on-one meeting with the L-G in about five years Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti has advocated the reservation of assembly seats and free land for Kashmiri Pandits to facilitate their dignified return to the Valley. Her remarks are being seen as a potential thaw in her relations with the BJP-led central government. Mehbooba called on lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha at the Raj Bhawan in her first one-on-one meeting with the L-G in about five years and submitted an 'inclusive and phased roadmap" to facilitate 'meaningful progress" on the front. The Peoples Democratic Party chief also submitted copies of the proposal to union home minister Amit Shah and chief minister Omar Abdullah. Quoting data from the Relief Office established by the government of Jammu and Kashmir in 1990, Mehbooba said 44,167 migrant families were officially registered as having fled the Valley due to security reasons in the 1990s. Of these, about 90 per cent (39,782) families were of Kashmiri Pandits. By 2020, the ministry of home Affairs said that the number of displaced Kashmiri Pandit families had risen to 64,951. In her proposal, Mehbooba said every displaced Kashmiri Pandit family should be allotted half a kanal (one kanal is 505.87 sq mt) of state land in their district of origin, contingent upon their willingness to return. 'This issue goes beyond politics and touches the very core of our collective conscience. It is a moral imperative and a societal responsibility to ensure that our Pandit brothers and sisters, who were tragically displaced from their homeland, are provided with the opportunity to return in a manner that is dignified, secure and sustainable," she said in the letter. 'The shared pain of their displacement and the yearning for reconciliation bind us all in the belief that Kashmir can once again be a place where communities coexist peacefully. To facilitate meaningful progress on this front, an inclusive and phased roadmap has been attached for your consideration," she said. Mehbooba said such gestures would cleanse the majority Muslim community of the taint that they had not tried hard enough to prevent the Pandits' forced migration in the 1990s. Most of the Pandit exodus took place while her father, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, was union home minister. (With agency inputs)
India Gazette
15 hours ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
J-K: Kheer Bhawani, a sacred gathering of faith and devotion held in Ganderbal
Srinagar (J-K) [India] June 3 (ANI): The Kheer Bhawani Mela is an annual religious festival of great significance for the Kashmiri Pandit community. It is held at the Kheer Bhawani Temple in Tulla Mulla village of Ganderbal. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Ragnya Devi, an incarnation of Goddess Durga, and is revered by Kashmiri Hindus as one of the holiest sites in the region. The Kheer Bhawani Mela has been a spiritual cornerstone for the Kashmiri Pandit community for centuries. Pilgrims from across India converge at the sacred site to offer prayers, seek blessings, and participate in rituals that reinforce their cultural and spiritual identity. The Kheer Bhawani Mela is a symbol of resilience, especially for the displaced Kashmiri Pandit community. Despite the upheaval and migration due to the conflict in the Kashmir Valley in the 1990s, many families have continued to uphold the tradition of visiting the temple annually. The mela also reflects communal harmony, as local Muslim residents often assist in the preparations, showcasing the spirit of brotherhood and shared heritage in the valley. While speaking to ANI on Tuesday, Jagdish Bharadwaj Pandit, a priest at the temple, said, 'We are celebrating our Mata's birthday with great pomp, just like every year, and people from all over the world have come with great enthusiasm. Devotees have received a warm welcome, and the local people are feeling delighted. Whether it's Jestha Mata, Vaishno Devi, or Banglamukhi Mata, and all the Sufi saints who were here, they are the reason we are living here. They are protecting us.' 'People have congratulated us since this morning, and the government has extended its greetings, especially the local government, LG Saheb, and our Maharaja. Those in charge have made excellent arrangements for the people, and Muslim brothers are also participating. It's wonderful that we pray in front of Mata, wishing for India's prosperity and progress, particularly in Kashmir. This temple is a symbol of unity, sending a message to the world through Hindu-Muslim harmony. Kashmiri Pandits have come, and some special ones are staying, making it a joyous occasion', Pandit said. Ashok Kumar, a local from Srinagar, told ANI, 'Every year, arrangements were made here, but this time I noticed some remarkable arrangements. Inside, there are excellent camps built for sitting and sleeping separately. Earlier, there were no tents inside the building, but now five to six types of tents have been set up, ensuring a comfortable stay with no shortages.' 'This celebration, known as Jyeshtha Ashtami, has been observed for thousands of years. According to legend, Lord Hanuman brought Mother Queen from Sri Lanka during the Ramayana era, and she's been revered here ever since. On this day, people have great faith in Mother Queen, and it's a celebration of unity among Hindus and Muslims.' Kumar stated. Another local resident, Ratanlal Bali, told ANI, 'This is our Kuldevi. This year, things are slightly different due to the incident (Pahalgam terror attack), but otherwise, the Muslims here consider it more than us, and the brotherhood is excellent. The festivities will continue for three days, with a large crowd expected today. However, with Mata's support and protection, there is no fear.' Earlier, Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner Arvind Kirwani informed that all necessary arrangements have been made for the devotees travelling from Jammu to the revered Kheer Bhawani Temple in Tulmulla, Ganderbal, in the Kashmir valley. 'All required arrangements are in place, including transport facilities for people displaced from Jammu. District Administration has made living arrangements, health facilities, food, and a 10-bedded hospital for the passengers going to Ganderbal.' Commissioner Kirwani told ANI. Facilities include transport, accommodation, food, health services, and a 10-bed hospital, with a stopover in Ramban equipped with food and toilet facilities. Over 60 buses have been arranged, and robust security measures, including paramilitary forces, are in place for the devotees' safety en route and at the destination. 'The passengers will halt in Ramban. Food and toilet facilities have been placed there, too... We have arranged for more than 60 buses to go to Kheer Bhawani... Appropriate security arrangements have been ensured for the devotees en route and at their destination. Para-military forces are in place too,' Commissioner Kirwani informed. Yesterday, Jammu Deputy Commissioner Sachin Kumar and IGP Bhim Singh flagged off over 60 buses transporting devotees to the annual Kheer Bhawani Mela. The Mata Kheer Bhawani annual Mela at the famous Ragnya Devi temple near Srinagar.'Kheer'- a milk and rice pudding that is offered to propitiate the goddess. Kheer Bhawani is sometimes translated as 'Milk Goddess'. The worship of Kheer Bhawani is universal among the Hindus of Kashmir; most of them worship her as their protective patron deity, Kuladevi. (ANI)
NDTV
16 hours ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Hundreds Of Kashmiri Pandits Gather At Annual J&K Mela Under Tight Security
Srinagar: Hundreds of Kashmiri Pandits have gathered at Tulmulla in Jammu and Kashmir's Ganderbal district to participate in the annual Kheer Bhawani Mela, an age-old festival symbolising Kashmir's rich cultural and spiritual heritage. Despite a weather advisory and security concerns after the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, faith has brought the Kashmiri pandits back to their roots for the annual reunion that follows over three decades of separation and displacement. After the outbreak of terrorist attacks in 1990, thousands of Pandit families had migrated from the Valley to Jammu and other parts of the country. Official records show over 64,000 Kashmiri Pandit families are living outside Kashmir Valley - among them 43,000 in migrant camps in Jammu and over 19,000 in Delhi.' Dedicated to Goddess Ragnya Devi, the Kheer Bhawani Mela is one of the largest Hindu gatherings in the Valley, second only to the Amarnath Yatra. For many years, local Muslims looked after her temple located in the middle of a spring, where devotees offer milk and rice pudding. Kashmiri Pandits believe that the water at the spring shrine changes colour and it can foretell the future. If the colour of the water changes back, it's considered a bad omen. "The Mela is a symbol of communal harmony. All arrangements here have been made by local Muslims. Despite efforts to sow discord between the two communities, no one could break this centuries-old bond," said a Kashmiri Pandit leading prayers at the spring shrine. Elaborate security arrangements have been made for the Mela. Hundreds of Jammu and Kashmir police and CRPF personnel have been deployed in and around the temple. All roads leading to Kheer Bhawani have been sanitised to ensure a hassle-free moment for the devotees. Lt Governor Manoj Sinha visited the shrine today and offered prayers. Recently, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had also visited Tulmulla and reviewed preparations for the Mela.
