Only few hundred take part in Kashmir's Khir Bhawani festival

Tulmulla, Jun 4 (UNI) The recent wave of attacks on visitors in Kashmir has dealt a serious blow not only to the tourism industry, but to the religious activities as well.

A few hundred Kashmiri Pandits visited the sacred Khir Bhawani temple at Tulmulla in Ganderbal area of Srinagar district today to take part in the annual festival as compared to more than 50,000 devotees last year and one lakh in 2004.

An official spokesman said 4000 pilgrims had reported in the festival so far and many more were expected.

Talking to UNI, Civil Secretariat Hindu Devotee Sanstha President R L Bhan said only 160-180 migrant Kashmiri Pandits from Jammu today visited the temple, associated with the Goddess Ragnya Devi at Tulmulla, about 30 km northeast of Srinagar.

He said last year more than 50,000 members of the displaced community from almost all parts of the country had taken part in the Khir Bhawani mela (festival).

Mr Bhan blamed the Jammu and Kashmir government for less number of devotees at the temple this year.

''The state government should have launched a campaign soon after the attacks on tourists to assure the Kashmiri Pandits that it will take proper care as far their security is concerned...But it was not done,'' he said.

Mr Bhan said about 1200 kg of rice besides other food and other items had gone waste as they expected significant number of devotees this year as well.

Amid tight security, the devotees started converging at the Khir Bhawani temple on Zeshtha Ashtami and the 'maha yagna' would culminate with 'puran ahuti' and 'naveed'.

Flowers are offered at the sanctum sanctorum of the Mata Maha Ragyana temple located in the holy spring under the shadow of chinar trees. Local Muslims, both men and women, young and old, sell ratandeep, kand, venye, flowers and milk to be offered by the devotees at the shrine.

MORE UNI AG YA RS1646