Journey of faith for displaced Kashmiri Pandits

Setting aside their fears, thousands of Kashmiri Pandits thronged the ancient shrines of Kheer Bhawani and Mata Tripur Sundri in this volatile south Kashmir district to celebrate the birthdays of the Vaishnavite goddesses.

The birth anniversaries of Mata Kheer Bhawani in Tulmula (Ganderbal district), Goddess Tripur Sundari in Devsar and Goddess Ragniya Bhagwati in Manzgam in Kulgam district, Ragniya Bhagwati Loktipura (Anantnag) and Ragniya Mata in Tikker (Kupwara) were celebrated by Kashmiri Pandits in the valley yesterday with havans, community kitchens and mass prayers.

This is for the first time that havans, community kitchens and mass prayers were conducted by Kashmiri Pandits on such a large scale in all the five ancient shrines on the same day as it was done 29 years ago before migration of Pandits in the wake of militancy.

"This situation in the valley did not deter pilgrims from paying obeisance at the spring shrine in Manzgam", Daleep Raina a devotee, told PTI.

He said local Muslims came forward to greet them on the occasion.

Avtar Ji Shastri, the head priest who performed the maha yagna at Manzgam shrine, said after many years Kashmir Pandits participated in the pilgrimage.

While 2,300 Kashmiri Pandits visited the spring shrine of Manzgam located near the famous Aharbal water falls, over