Date:05/06/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/06/05/stories/2006060504961400.htm

National

Fewer Pandits turn out for Kheer Bhawani festival

Special Correspondent

Cite the recent terror attacks in Srinagar as the reason

PHOTO: NISSAR AHMAD

FOR THE GODS: Kashmiri Hindu devotees offer prayers at the Khirbhawani shrine in Tulmula, 30 km from Srinagar, on Sunday.

TULMULL (GANDERBAL): The recent terror attacks in Srinagar have impacted the turnout at the annual Kheer Bhawani festival too. While over 15,000 Kashmiri Pandits turned up last year, the number was less than 3,000 on Sunday.

Most Pandits who came to worship at the Mata Ragnya temple in the Tullmull area of Ganderbal said they missed their "motherland" but were disappointed as "it continues to burn."

Poetess Santosh Bhat, 55, who left her Zaina Kadal Srinagar residence in 1989, said politicians were hoodwinking her community about the situation in Kashmir. "When devotees do not feel safe to visit Mata Ragnya, how can we think of returning to our homes," she asked. "We're afraid of guns. Violence should stop first, and then we can think of returning to Kashmir."

Praise for hospitality

B.J. Tukra, 35, a bank employee, praised the hospitality extended by the Muslim community during the festival. "We're thankful for the support of our Muslim brothers." On the drop in the number of devotees this year, he said: "The latest attacks on tourists is the reason behind this."

Stringent security checks were put in place by the authorities. Devotees and mediapersons were let inside only after being frisked completely.

Democratic Freedom Party chief Shabir Shah made a passionate appeal to the Pandits to return to their motherland. "I think the time has come for all migrants to come back to their homes. We're incomplete without Kashmiri Pandits and Sikhs. We'll live together and die together."