Thousands of devotees thronged the revered Mata Kheer Bhawani Temple at Bhawani Nagar, Janipur, today on the auspicious occasion of Zyeshta Ashtami. The festival, dedicated to Mata Kheer Bhawani—an incarnation of Goddess Ragnya and the presiding deity of Kashmiri Pandits—was observed with deep religious fervor and devotion.
The temple, a replica of the original shrine in Tulmulla village of Ganderbal district in Kashmir, witnessed long queues of devotees since early morning. Chanting hymns and carrying offerings, devotees of all ages offered prayers and sought blessings for peace and prosperity.
The entire temple complex was vibrantly decorated, and the air was filled with devotional bhajans that began last night and continued throughout the day. Puja items were provided by the temple management, Ardh Ratri Maha Raghneya Sewa Sanstha Trust, on a no-profit-no-loss basis.
A grand Hawan was performed by the Sanstha, and several service stalls were arranged for the devotees’ convenience. The event culminated in a Samuhik Aarti held at 7:15 PM, attended by thousands of devotees.
Meanwhile, the Kashmiri Sahayak Samiti (KSS) celebrated Zyeshta Ashtami at Mata Sharika Bhawan in Trikuta Nagar, marking the occasion as the divine birthday of Mata Kheer Bhawani. Devotees performed ritualistic hawan and puja, led by scholar B.N. Sadhu, who invoked the Goddess’s blessings for global peace and human welfare.
Traditional Kashmiri bhajans, sung by groups of Nari Shakti led by Kusum Koul and Veena Jee, filled the venue with spiritual energy, evoking emotional responses from community members unable to visit Tulmulla.
Dr. Daleep Pandita, General Secretary of KSS, highlighted the spiritual and historical significance of the day.
At Nagrota, senior leaders from the National Conference, including Additional General Secretary Ajay Kumar Sadhotra and Provincial President Advocate Rattan Lal Gupta, visited the Mata Kheer Bhawani shrine. They paid obeisance and interacted with members of the Kashmiri Pandit community, extending greetings and praying for lasting peace and communal harmony in J&K.
They were accompanied by party leaders including Bimla Luthra, Pardeep Bali, Ayub Malik, Laxmi Datta, Satwant Kour Dogra, Abdul Gani Teli, Raghbir Singh Manhas, Naresh Bittu, Vikram Puri, and others.
Celebrations also took place at the Kashmiri Pandit Sabha in Ambphalla, where traditional puja was held and Prasad distributed among the participants. Sabha President K.K. Khosa and several prominent community members including Deepak Dhar, Ashwani Koul, Subhash Dhar, Dr. Usha Tickoo, Dr. Sujata Sathoo, and others were present on the occasion.
Across Jammu, the spirit of devotion and unity marked the celebrations of Zyeshta Ashtami, reaffirming the deep cultural and religious roots of the Kashmiri Pandit community.
