JK minister flags off pilgrimage to Mata Kheer Bhawani shrine in Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir Minister Javaid Mustafa Mir flagged off the annual pilgrimage to Mata Kheer Bhawani shrine in Tulmulla of Ganderbal district from Nagrota in the outskirts of Jammu city today.

The Kheer Bhawani festival is expected to witness an increased pilgrim foot-fall compared to the last few years. Over 3000 pilgrims have already registered themselves for the yatra, officials said.

Every year on June 20, Kheer Bhawani melas are organised at five shrines across Kashmir. These are Ragnya Bagwati shrine at Tulmul in Ganderbal, Ragyna Bagwati shrine at Manzgam in Kulgam, Tripursundri shrine at Devsar in Kulgam, Ragnya Bagwati shrine at Logripora in Anantnag and Ragnya Bagwati temple complex at Tikkar in Kupawara.

"Over 3,000 pilgrims have registered themselves so far. There will a larger foot fall of pilgrims at these shrines during the melas this year compared to last year," Shri Mata Kheer Bhawani temple committee president Kiran Watal said.

Over 1,000 pilgrims have left in convoy of vehicles, which was flagged off the Minister, Watal said.

At the flagging-off ceremony, the state minister for disaster management, relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction said the government has made proper arrangements for the pilgrims and elaborate security measures have been taken to make the yatra safe and secure.

Jammu and Kashmir is a unique bouquet of diverse cultures and the government is making every possible effort to preserve and promote state's cultural wealth," Mir said.

The administration has appealed to the pilgrims to make this pilgrimage 'polythene-free'.

Besides Mir, IGP of Jammu S D Singh, Deputy Commissioner Kumar Rajeev Ranjan, Commissioner of Relief M.L Raina and others attended the flagging-off event.