Kheer Bhawani Festival: Significance, History and Challenges.

Why in the News?

The recent terror attack in Pahalgam has cast a shadow over the annual Jyestha Ashtami celebrations at the Kheer Bhawani temple, leading to a significant drop in pilgrim turnout. The incident has once again highlighted the fragile security situation in Kashmir and the vulnerabilities of religious minorities.

Background

• The Kheer Bhawani Festival, also known as Mela Kheer Bhawani, is a major religious event for the Kashmiri Pandit community, celebrated annually on Jyestha Ashtami.
• The temple is located in Tulmulla village, Ganderbal district, Jammu and Kashmir.
• Dedicated to Goddess Ragnya Devi, the temple is built atop a natural spring, where devotees offer kheer (rice pudding) as a sacred offering.
• Historical references to the site exist in texts like Kalhana’s Rajtarangini, Bhrigu Samhita, and Abu’l-Fazl’s Ain-i-Akbari.
• Maharaja Pratap Singh originally built the modern structure, with renovations by Maharaja Hari Singh in the early 1900s.

Features

• Spiritual Symbolism: The temple spring, Syandh, is considered sacred and separate from the Sindhu (Indus) River.
• Colour-Changing Spring: The spring water is believed to change colour based on the region’s well-being. Notably, it reportedly turned black in 1990, just before the mass exodus of Kashmiri Pandits.
• Cultural Significance: Serves as a symbol of identity, continuity, and resilience for the displaced Kashmiri Pandit diaspora.
• Community Participation: Local Muslim communities assist with festival preparations, highlighting interfaith cooperation and communal harmony.
• Scale: It is the largest Hindu gathering in the Valley after the Amarnath Yatra

Challenges

• Security Threats: Recurring incidents of terrorism and targeted killings discourage pilgrim participation and threaten safety.
• Communal Tensions: Occasional politicisation of the event and communal polarisation can overshadow its inclusive ethos.
  Preservation of Heritage: Maintenance of the temple structure, natural spring, and ritual practices is challenged by declining numbers and infrastructural neglect.
• Emotional and Psychological Barriers: For many displaced Pandits, returning to the Valley, even for a religious occasion, brings back trauma and fear.

Way Forward

• Enhanced Security Protocols: The government must ensure safe passage and protection for devotees, especially during high-risk events.
• Rehabilitation Efforts: Strengthen policies aimed at resettling displaced Kashmiri Pandits and restoring trust in local governance.
• Interfaith Engagement: Promote and preserve the tradition of Muslim participation as a model for communal unity.
• Cultural Documentation: Record and promote the rituals, stories, and oral traditions associated with the temple to sustain intangible heritage.
• Tourism and Pilgrimage Infrastructure: Improve basic amenities, transport access, and emergency services for pilgrims at Tulmulla.
• Youth Involvement: Encourage diaspora youth to participate in festivals through community programs, storytelling, and virtual platforms.

Conclusion

The Kheer Bhawani Festival is not merely a religious event; it is a testament to the resilience of a displaced community, a beacon of interfaith unity, and a reminder of Kashmir’s syncretic past. Protecting and promoting such events, amid security concerns and cultural erosion, is crucial to inclusive peace-building in Jammu and Kashmir.

PRELIMS PRACTICE QUESTION

Question. Which of the following statements about the Kheer Bhawani Festival is/are correct?

1. It is celebrated by the Kashmiri Pandit community on Jyestha Ashtami.
2. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Vaishno Devi.
3. The festival takes place at a temple located over a natural spring in the Ganderbal district, Jammu and Kashmir.
4. The water of the spring is believed to change colour based on the state of the region.
   

Select the correct answer using the code below:

A) 1 and 2 only
B) 1, 3, and 4 only
C) 2, 3, and 4 only
D) 1, 2, 3, and 4

Answer:  B1, 3, and 4 only
Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct: the festival is celebrated by Kashmiri Pandits on Jyestha Ashtami.S
• tatement 2 is incorrect: the temple is dedicated to Goddess Ragnya Devi, not Vaishno Devi.
• Statements 3 and 4 are correct:  the temple is located over a natural spring in Tulmulla, Ganderbal, and the water is believed to change colour as an omen.