Khir Bhawani mela, an apportunity for Pandit-Muslim reunion

Tulmulla(Kashmir), Jun 11 (UNI) It was an emotional reunion of Kashmiri pandits, visiting the valley for the first time since their migration about two decades ago, and local muslims on the occasion of annual Khir Bhawani mela here today.

Emotional scenes were witnessed when Muslims greeted their Pandit brethren with flowers in their hands on the latter's arrival from different parts of the country.

The Kashmiriyat has ultimately emerged winner despite attempts by people with vested interest to dilute it, said a group of Pandits and Muslims after they greeted each other.

Ghulam Rasool, a local resident said, as a child he used to attend almost every mela with his father.

''I am still emotionally attached to the mela which provides me a satisfaction,'' he said, adding ''the people of the area are waiting for this day the entire year.'' He said ''though we did not get any monetary benefit from the mela, we enjoy it as money is not everything in the world, especially for a true Kashmiri irrespective of the religion he belongs to.'' ''In the years of turmoil, only few hundreds, besides security force personnel were visiting the shrine. But for the past several years, the number of devotees is increasing,'' he added.

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