Pilgrims visit annual Kheer Bhawani festival

Bad weather played spoilsport as fewer number of pilgrims paid obeisance at the revered temple of Ragnya Devi today on the occasion of Kheer Bhawani festival - a symbol of Hindu-Muslim amity - here at central Kashmir's Ganderbal district.
Last year, about 60,000 pilgrims visited the temple. But, this year the authorities believe 20,000 to 30,000 people would pay their respects at the temple.
"There are less number of pilgrims this year and this has happened due to rains for the past few days," said Jai Kishan Rana, a Kashmiri Pandit who was paying obeisance at the temple.
Blaming bad condition of Srinagar-Jammu national highway as another factor for the fewer numbers, he said, "Government has not done anything for the highway. It is in bad condition and people avoid travelling."

Similar views were echoed by a number of pilgrims, who said the government should seriously focus on improving the condition of the highway.
"Government has been saying that the road will be made better. That there would be four-laning of the national highway, but so far nothing much has been done," Sushil Koul, a resident of Habbakadal said.
The pilgrims however praised the arrangements made by the government for the annual festival. "The arrangements are nice but the weather has been bad," Inder Kak, a pilgrim, said.