Thousands of Kashmiri Pandits pay obeisance to Ragnya Devi at Kheer Bhawani temple

Thousands of Kashmiri Pandit devotees paid obeisance to Hindu Goddess, Mata Ragnya Devi on Monday.The devotees thronged the famous Kheer Bhawani temple of Ragnya Devi at Tulmulla in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district to celebrate the annual festival of Kheer Bhawani. Devotees were seen standing in serpentine queues outside the temples since early morning

Nestled in the shade of mammoth Chinar trees, the temple witnessed a good number of devotees this year, most of them Kashmiri Pandits, who had come from various parts of the state and outside.

The administration had made elaborate arrangements for the smooth conduct of the mela.

Walking barefoot, the devotees carried rose petals and offered tribute to the goddess as men took a dip in the stream near the shrine.

Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik also visited the Kheer Bhawani shrine to take part in the ongoing fair.

BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav,  National conference president and Parliament member Dr Farooq Abdullah, Congress state president Ghulam Ahmed Mir, senior NC leader Dr Sameer Kaul MLC Surinder Ambardar, MLC Ajay Bharti besides other leaders also visited Kheerbawani and interacted with the devotees.