Srinagar, June 6 (KMW): The religious harmony was clearly seen in the Tulmula temple on the eve of Kheer Bhawani Festival on Friday with the pundits holding prayers for Kashmir resolution and Muslims making arrangements for the same.
According to the KMW district correspondent, Kashmir’s pandit community in large number paid obeisance at the Kher Bavani temple at central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district. The devotees prayed for peace and the resolution of Kashmir at an earliest. They also expressed their desire to return to their native places with honor and dignity. “We want to live here as we used to be in the past. We have our roots in the land and we know that our identity lies with this great soil,†said a Kashmiri pandit after paying obeisance.
Reports also maintained that the local Muslims were all busy in making arrangement for the special prayers and also the refreshment was made available by the local Muslims.
The Muslims had set up stalls selling flowers and other material for the devotees to offer at the temple.
Walking barefoot and carrying rose petals, the devotees, mostly Kashmiri Pandits, throng the temple every year to pay obeisance while offering milk and kheer (rice-pudding) to the sacred spring within the complex. Meanwhile, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Friday could not visit the Kheer Bhawani Temple due to official engagements however, he extended greetings to the Kashmiri Pandit community on the Kheer Bhawani Festival.
“Warm greetings to the members of the Kashmiri Pandit community on the occasion of the Kheer Bhavani Mela,†Omar tweeted.
“I regret that the presence of and meetings with the 14th Finance Commission has meant, I haven’t been able to visit Tulmullah (Kheer Bhawani temple) today,†he said on the micro-blogging site.
Omar said he was looking forward to work with the new government at the Centre on return of Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley.
“I look forward to working with the new government as they unveil their plans for the honourable return of the displaced Pandit community,†Omar wrote on Twitter.
State Congress chief Saif-ud-din Soz, Srinagar member parliament Tariq Qarra, Inspector general of Police A.G.Mir besides several others visited the shrine of Mata Kheer Bavani on Friday.
