The air at the revered Ragnya Devi temple in Tulmulla is thick with the scent of incense and the weight of unspoken longing. Amid the vibrant celebrations of the annual Mela Kheer Bhawani, a Kashmiri Pandit woman in her late sixties, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, clutches a small offering of kheer to the goddess. Her trembling voice, heavy with decades of exile, pierces the festive hum: “Ab hum apne ghar wapis aana chahte hain, ghar se door bahut samay beet gaya.” (Now we want to return home; we have spent a lifetime away from our homes and hearths.) “We wait for the day the whole year to return to Kashmir”.
Her words, raw and choked with emotion, echo the silent ache of thousands of Kashmiri Pandits displaced from their homeland in the 1990s.
Standing before the sacred spring of Ragnya Devi, adorned with marigold garlands and flickering diyas, she pours out her heart’s deepest wish — to return to the valley that cradles her memories, her roots, her identity.
This year, the annual festival, held at the revered Kheer Bhawani temple, became a beacon of hope just days after a devastating terror attack in Pahalgam and a four-day military conflict that followed, as leaders stood shoulder to shoulder with devotees to honor the deity and reclaim the valley’s legacy of harmony.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, sporting a traditional headgear, described the turnout as a “good sign,” reflecting the community’s unwavering faith and determination to reclaim their cultural roots.
“The devotees have come in large numbers to attend the Mela Kheer Bhawani. This is a good sign and this is the first time after April 22 that such a crowd has gathered at a place,” Sinha told reporters after offering prayers at the Ragnya Devi temple in Ganderbal district.
Welcoming the devotees, the LG assured that the administration has made good arrangements for the mela. “The work on yatri niwas is going on,” he added.
For Kashmiri Pandits, many of whom migrated from the Valley in the 1990s due to militancy, the mela is more than a religious event — it is a homecoming, a reconnection with their heritage, and a moment to pray for peace in their homeland.
“This is our mother’s call. Coming here feels like returning to our roots, but it also reminds us of what we’ve lost,” said Sanjeev Raina, a 52-year-old Kashmiri Pandit who traveled from Jammu to attend the mela. “The crowds today give us hope, but the fear from the recent attack lingers. We pray Mata keeps us safe.”
For younger Kashmiri Pandits, born outside the Valley, the festival was a poignant introduction to their ancestral traditions. “I’ve only heard stories of this temple from my parents. Being here feels sacred, but it’s also bittersweet knowing we don’t live here anymore,” said Arpita Khosa, a 22-year-old from Delhi.
The attack in Pahalgam, which targeted pilgrims, had cast a shadow over religious gatherings, with many Kashmiri Pandits expressing apprehension about attending the mela.
Yet, the sight of a large gathering of Kashmiri pandits converging at Tullamulla — joined by local Muslims setting up stalls for puja items — reaffirmed the spirit of Kashmiriyat. “We were scared after Pahalgam, but Mata’s call is stronger than fear. Her spring is clear today, a sign of hope,” said Meena Koul.
National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, standing amidst the vibrant yet solemn gathering at the temple shrine in Ganderbal, could barely contain his emotions.
After offering prayers at the temple Dr Abdullah hoped that Kashmiri Pandits would return to the Valley as their presence at the Mela Kheer Bhawani in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack was “a befitting reply” to its perpetrators.
“This (presence of devotees at the mela) is a huge thing. This is Mata’s (temple deity) doing. She has called them here, to their homes,” Abdullah told reporters.
“Come to Jammu and Kashmir in huge numbers,” he pleaded, his eyes reflecting a hope that transcends politics. “Do not let terror define this land of beauty and brotherhood.”
People’s Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti, who also turned up at the shrine, emphasised that peace in Kashmir remains an unfinished dream without the dignified return of Kashmiri Pandits. “Guns cannot be a solution to achieving peace,” she declared, her words cutting through the noise of conflict. “The gun of militants is not a solution, nor is it a military one. There must be a political process—a process that cannot be complete until our Kashmiri Pandit brothers and sisters return to Kashmir with respect, settle here, and play their role.”
BJP’s National General Secretary, incharge of Jammu and Kashmir Tarun Chugh, along with senior BJP leaders Satpal Sharma, Sunil Sharma, offered prayers at the temple. Chugh said, “This mela has been held for centuries and it will be held for ages to come. No one can stop it. The temple is not just a religious place but a powerful symbol of India’s unity and resilience.”