Nagrota (Jammu), Over 5,000 people, mostly members of the Kashmiri Pandit community, began their journey from here on Wednesday for the annual Kheer Bhawani fair in Kashmir amid tight security, officials said on Wednesday.
The four-day pilgrimage began today with Divisional Commissioner (Jammu) Ramesh Kumar, Relief Commissioner Dr Arvind Karwani and prominent Kashmiri Pandit leaders flagging off the pilgrimage from Nagrota area.
Singing bhajans and chanting mantras, the devotees left for five pilgrimage sites in the Kashmir valley in 176 buses.
Relief Commissioner Dr. Arvind Karwani said here, "More than 5,000 Kashmiri Pandits left for Kashmir to participate in the Kheerbhawani fair. Amidst tight security arrangements, they left from Nagrota in the early hours of today in 176 buses.,
He said the pilgrims will stay at Ramban for the launch and added that strict security measures have been taken for the smooth conduct of the pilgrimage.
Regarding the recent terrorist attacks in Jammu, a devotee said, "We are not afraid of these terrorist attacks. How long will we remain in fear? We have the protection of the Mother (Deity)."
Kasum Pandita, who was going to visit Mata Kheerbhavani in Manzagam, said that he was excited to participate in the pilgrimage instead of being scared.
There have been three terrorist attacks in Jammu region in as many days since Sunday.Last Sunday, terrorists opened fire on a bus carrying pilgrims from the Shiv Khori temple in Katra to the Mata Vaishno Devi temple, causing the vehicle to veer off the road and fall into a deep gorge in Reasi, killing nine people. and 41 were injured.
In Doda district, five Rashtriya Rifles personnel and a special police officer (SPO) were injured when terrorists attacked a joint check post in the upper reaches of Chattargalla on the Bhaderwah-Pathankot road.
In Kathua, terrorists attacked a village near the international border on Tuesday evening and injured a civilian. During the subsequent search operation, one terrorist was killed while efforts were being made to flush out another hiding terrorist who was believed to have infiltrated from across the border.
A CRPF jawan was seriously injured in firing by a terrorist hiding in a village in Kathua around 3 am on Wednesday.
The annual Kheer Bhavani Mela, celebrated on Jesht Ashtami, will be held on June 14 at the temples of Tulmulla in Ganderbal, Tikkar in Kupwara, Laktipora Aishmukam in Anantnag, Mata Tripurasundari Devsar in Kulgam and Mata Kheer Bhavani Manzgam in Kulgam.This year, an estimated 80,000 migrant Kashmiri Pandits from different parts of India and abroad are expected to visit the five famous temples of the valley during the annual fair.
The four-day pilgrimage began today with Divisional Commissioner (Jammu) Ramesh Kumar, Relief Commissioner Dr Arvind Karwani and prominent Kashmiri Pandit leaders flagging off the pilgrimage from Nagrota area.
Singing bhajans and chanting mantras, the devotees left for five pilgrimage sites in the Kashmir valley in 176 buses.
Relief Commissioner Dr. Arvind Karwani said here, "More than 5,000 Kashmiri Pandits left for Kashmir to participate in the Kheerbhawani fair. Amidst tight security arrangements, they left from Nagrota in the early hours of today in 176 buses.,
He said the pilgrims will stay at Ramban for the launch and added that strict security measures have been taken for the smooth conduct of the pilgrimage.
Regarding the recent terrorist attacks in Jammu, a devotee said, "We are not afraid of these terrorist attacks. How long will we remain in fear? We have the protection of the Mother (Deity)."
Kasum Pandita, who was going to visit Mata Kheerbhavani in Manzagam, said that he was excited to participate in the pilgrimage instead of being scared.
There have been three terrorist attacks in Jammu region in as many days since Sunday.Last Sunday, terrorists opened fire on a bus carrying pilgrims from the Shiv Khori temple in Katra to the Mata Vaishno Devi temple, causing the vehicle to veer off the road and fall into a deep gorge in Reasi, killing nine people. and 41 were injured.
In Doda district, five Rashtriya Rifles personnel and a special police officer (SPO) were injured when terrorists attacked a joint check post in the upper reaches of Chattargalla on the Bhaderwah-Pathankot road.
In Kathua, terrorists attacked a village near the international border on Tuesday evening and injured a civilian. During the subsequent search operation, one terrorist was killed while efforts were being made to flush out another hiding terrorist who was believed to have infiltrated from across the border.
A CRPF jawan was seriously injured in firing by a terrorist hiding in a village in Kathua around 3 am on Wednesday.
The annual Kheer Bhavani Mela, celebrated on Jesht Ashtami, will be held on June 14 at the temples of Tulmulla in Ganderbal, Tikkar in Kupwara, Laktipora Aishmukam in Anantnag, Mata Tripurasundari Devsar in Kulgam and Mata Kheer Bhavani Manzgam in Kulgam.This year, an estimated 80,000 migrant Kashmiri Pandits from different parts of India and abroad are expected to visit the five famous temples of the valley during the annual fair.
