Srinagar, June 14: The sacred spring of Kheer Bhawani in Kashmir’s Ganderbal district was the site of poignant scenes this week as the annual festival brought together Kashmiri Pandits and Muslims in an atmosphere of unity and tolerance.
Thousands of Kashmiri Pandits, the Hindu minority who were forced to flee the Kashmir Valley in the 1990s due to militancy, made the pilgrimage to offer prayers at the revered shrine dedicated to the Hindu goddess Ragnya Devi. For many, it was an emotional homecoming to the land of their ancestors.
As the devotees thronged the temple complex, embracing relatives and friends they had not seen in decades, local Muslims welcomed them with open arms. “This is our Kashmiriyat (shared culture),” said Manzoor Ahmad, a resident who set up a stall outside selling coconuts and Hindu prayer items. “The Pandits are our brothers and sisters. Their happiness is our happiness.”
The Kheer Bhawani festival, which marks the beginning of the new year for Kashmiri Pandits, has become a symbol of communal harmony in the strife-torn region. Despite forced migration and years of separation, the bonds between the communities remain strong.
“I had tears in my eyes seeing my Muslim brothers and sisters here,” said Ramesh Bhat, a Pandit who traveled from Delhi. “They were selling us all the items needed for our puja (prayers) with so much love and respect. How can we harbor ill feelings when this warmth still exists?”
The festival also provides a key source of income for many Muslim families who set up temporary stalls outside the temple, selling flowers, prayer items, snacks and traditional Kashmiri clothing.
“For us, Kheer Bhawani is like Eid,” said Mehmooda, running a brisk trade in her rose petal stall. “We get so much business over these few days that it sustains us for months.”
As dusk fell, Pandits immersed themselves in the cold waters of the sacred spring, offering milk and yogurt to the goddess. On the banks, Muslim families looked on, showcasing the enduring syncretism of Kashmir’s multi-religious ethos.
“Today we celebrated our shared karavan (brotherhood),” said Sajad Ahmad, a local. “No politics, no divisions, just our age-old insaniyat (humanity) binding us together once more.”
While conflict still simmers in parts of Kashmir, festivals like Kheer Bhawani offer a reminder of the region’s pluralistic roots, where Hindu and Muslim communities have long coexisted. As the devotees reluctantly made their way home, there were heartfelt embraces and whispers of “As salamu alaykum” and “Namaste” – a pledge to keep this tradition alive for generations to come.
