• Tears, Prayers define emotional gathering at Tulmulla shrine
• Community Says “Trust, coexistence key to rehab”
Tulmulla: Tears rolled down Neha Bhatt’s face as she stood outside the Kheer Bhawani shrine in Tulmulla, speaking about the home she still longs for.
“We just want to come back home and live in Kashmir. We need the support of our local Muslim brothers and sisters,” she said while crying
For Neha, a displaced Kashmiri Pandit now living in Jammu, visiting Kheer Bhawani was not just a religious trip. It was an emotional return to the land she still calls home. Politicians have failed to solve the problems of displaced Pandits, she said.
“Politicians did nothing for us, and even today nothing meaningful has changed. But despite everything, we still want to return,” Neha said.
Remembering the migration of the 1990s, Neha said families were forced to leave in fear.“Like sheep, we came here, leaving everything behind,” she said.
Talking about life in Jammu, she said her family still struggles every day.“We have only two rooms in Jammu, and all of us have to live, study and manage everything there. I have children and family responsibilities. Life is very difficult,” she said.
Neha said her family lost everything after leaving Kashmir.“Our house was burned after we left Kashmir. We lost our home, our memories, everything,” she said.
Neha said that the younger generation wants to move on and rebuild trust.“What the old people did, they did. We cannot change the past. Now we want to come back and start a new life,” she said.
Neha said displaced families are not asking for money or government packages.
“We do not want any package. We only want to return to Kashmir, and for that we need the support of our Muslim brothers,” she said.
She also criticised the government.“My father stayed here for a long time and saw everything. The rest is just government drama,” she said.
Even after years away, Neha said she still believes in Kashmir’s brotherhood.“We are safer with our Muslim brothers. We do not want to be a burden on anyone,” she said.
As Neha broke down again, she said leaving Kashmir was painful.
“In a few hours, we will be taken back to Jammu in vehicles, but we do not want to go back. I hope that day comes when we return home with dignity and peace,” she said. “I want to see that day,” she added.
At annual Kheer Bhawani Mela, where hundreds of Kashmiri Pandits from across the country gathered on Monday at Tulmulla in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.
The mela, celebrated on ZyethAtham (Jyeshta Ashtami), is one of the most important festivals of the Kashmiri Pandit community.Devotees offered prayers to Mata Ragnya Bhagwati for peace, prosperity and harmony in Jammu and Kashmir.
The shrine, surrounded by large chinar trees, was filled with devotees carrying flowers, milk and kheer. Vedic hymns, devotional songs and conch shell sounds created a spiritual atmosphere.
Security was tight around the shrine, and the administration made arrangements for devotees.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha visited the shrine, offered prayers and reviewed the arrangements. “We pray to Mata Kheer Bhawani for peace and prosperity in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
The sacred spring inside the shrine also drew attention. Devotees believe the colour of the spring reflects the situation in Kashmir. This year, the water looked clear and milky white, which many saw as a sign of peace.
Another devotee, Sunil Dhar, said the mela keeps them connected to Kashmir.
“This is not just a pilgrimage. Every visit reconnects us with our roots. The community wants a safe and dignified return,” he said adding that they want to return without fear and rebuild our lives.
Another devotee, Anita Razdan, said meeting old neighbours brings hope.“When old neighbours meet us warmly, it reminds us that our bonds are still alive,” she said.
Many local Muslims welcomed visiting Pandits warmly. Several people met old friends and neighbours after many years, leading to emotional reunions.
The festival also witnessed political visits during the day. Mehbooba Mufti visited the shrine and offered prayers. While interacting with devotees, some members of the Kashmiri Pandit community clicked selfies with her and exchanged greetings.
However, moments later, another group of Pandits raised slogans and attempted to engage with her but alleged they were not allowed by her entourage. Slogans such as “Jis Kashmir ko khoon se seencha, woh Kashmir hamarahai” and “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” echoed briefly in the shrine premises before she departed.
Meanwhile, BJP’s Jammu and Kashmir president Sat Sharma, who also paid obeisance at the shrine, said the increasing number of devotees reflects a peaceful atmosphere in the Valley.
“People from every faith and every political party are here, serving the devotees. The increasing footfall signifies an atmosphere of peace in Jammu and Kashmir, especially in the Valley,” he said.
Devotees and community leaders reiterated the long-pending demand for a dignified and secure return of displaced Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley, ending what many described as decades-long exile.
