Srinagar: The annual ‘Mela Kheer Bhawani’, one of the significant festivals of Kashmiri Pandits associated with Goddess Ragnya Devi, was on Friday celebrated with religious fervor and gaiety at Tulmulla area of central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district amid strict adherence to Covid protocols.
The festival is being held on Jesht Ashtami (May-June) every year when Kashmiri pandits visit the place in large number to offer prayers and seek blessings of the deity.
The district administration had made elaborate arrangements at the temple and it’s premises to ensure smooth conduct of this religious event.
Additional Chief Secretary, Health & Medical Education, Atal Dulloo, IG Kashmir, K Vijay Kumar and Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal, Krittika Jyotsna visited the Shrine and paid obeisance at the revered shrine.
Normally, thousands of devotees, mostly Kashmiri Pandits, arrive at Mata Ragnya Devi temple to celebrate the annual festival. However the number of devotees was far less than normal in recent times except for last year when it was cancelled by Dharmarth Trust of Jammu and Kashmir, which organises the festival, because of the covid-19 pandemic.
The devotees paid obeisance to the deity while offering milk and kheer (pudding) at the sacred spring within the complex.
This year, the devotees followed Covid appropriate behaviour and the local authorities had made elaborate arrangements to check the spread of the infection, officials said.
They said the devotees were allowed inside the temple in small groups and were asked to maintain social distance. They were seen in queues.
On Thursday, Director Health Services Kashmir, Dr Mushtaq Ahmad Rather visited Kheer Bhawani Temple to take stock of the arrangements of healthcare facilities. .
At the site, the Director said that all the arrangements have been made at the site.
In view of Covid-19, thermal screening and other arrangements were made available for pilgrims like emergency equipment and emergency medicines.
Masks, sanitizers were made available in “good quantities” at site, officials said. The DHSK also issued on spot directions with respect to implementation of Covid-19 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) or guidelines.
The Director had also directed the concerned Chief Medical Officer to ensure thermal scanning of all the pilgrims before entering into the temple. (GNS)
