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/ India News / 2007 / June 2007 / June 24, 2007 Muslims join Hindus in celebrating Kheer Bhawani festival in J and K |
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pura) (J-K), June 24 (ANIMuslims in the region joined 25,000 Hindu devotees, who thronged Kheer Bhawani temple, on Saturday to mark Jyeshtha Ashtami, the birthday of the Goddess Kheer Bhawani.
Tulmul (Janipura) (J-K), June 24 : Muslims in the region joined 25,000 Hindu devotees, who thronged 'Kheer Bhawani' temple, on Saturday to mark 'Jyeshtha Ashtami', the birthday of the Goddess Kheer Bhawani.
The revered temple here is 24 kilometres from Srinagar, and the entire area wore a festive look, as devotees from across the country congregated to celebrate the goddess birthday amidst much fanfare and gaiety.
"It (The birthday of the Goddess Kheer Bhawani) falls on the day of 'Jyeshtha Ashtami' and we all celebrate the goddess birthday every year," said M.K. Bhan, a devotee.
Sanjay Saraf, another devotee, said: "Every year a day is fixed when all the Kashmiri Pundits assemble here at the 'Kheer Bhawani' temple for worship. Today, we are more happy because this time our Muslim brothers are also part of the celebrations."
Meanwhile, at Janipura in Jammu region, festivities were in full swing as thousands of devotees, mainly Kashmiri Hindus, assembled to celebrate the joyous affair at the local 'Kheer Bhawani' temple.
Singing devotional songs, the devotees offered milk and flowers to the goddess and also lighted oil lamps.
"We would pray for world peace today to the goddess, particularly for people of Jammu and Kashmir, who are forcibly living away from their homes. We would pray to the goddess for their return to their homes," said Susheel Watal, a devotee.
The fair is a symbol of Hindu-Muslim unity in the restive region.
Originally built by Kashmir's erstwhile King Maharaja Pratap Singh in 1912 and later renovated by Maharaja Hari Singh, Kheer Bhawani Temple is dedicated to Goddess Rajnya Devi.
The marble stone temple was named Kheer Bhawani because of a ritual following which devotees offer milk and "Kheer" (rice pudding) to a sacred spring at the spot, which is believed to ward off any impending disaster.
Devotees fast and gather here on the eighth day of the full moon during the auspicious month when, according to the belief, the goddess changes the colour of the spring's waters.
ANI
