Jammu, June 1: Unwavering faith, coupled with a dash of nostalgia and yearning for a return to roots, was pervading the air.
Many were experiencing spiritual bliss, enjoying every bit of exuberance that prevailed all around as women were engrossed in singing Kashmiri hymns and prayers in praise of ìMata Kheer Bhwaniî before embarking on the pilgrimage to Her sacred place in Kashmir.
The occasion was the flagging off the annual Mata Kheer Bhawani Yatra from Nagrota on Sunday. Hundreds of devotees from Jammu, Delhi and other parts of India left in a fleet of buses for various revered destinations associated with the Mata Kheer Bhawani Mela.
These destinations included Tulmulla (Ganderbal); Tikker (Kupwara) Devsar; Manzgam (Kulgam) and Logripora (Anantnag).
The main congregation will be held at Tulmulla in the Ganderbal district on the Ashtami Tithi of the Shukla Paksha of Jyeshtha month when thousands of devotees pay obeisance.
Enthusiasm was palpable as a young devotee Isha Bhat responded to media queries.
ìWe are very happy. That is our motherland. We love to go there. Yes, after the Pahalgam terror incident, there were certain apprehensions. Now everything seems to be normal. We are not scared. Security arrangements are there. Army, Police personnel are everywhere so there is nothing to worry,î she said.
A woman devotee Sarla Bhat from Delhi turned nostalgic while sharing her emotions while embarking on the pilgrimage. ìWe want to visit Kashmir. We yearn to return there. That is our native place. We have unflinching faith. Come what may, we will go there to pay obeisance to the Goddess. And why should we not? We belong to Kashmir and it belongs to us and will always remain so. Yearning to visit our roots never dies. We want to return there permanently. Pahalgam attack was unfortunate but that could not deter our faith, our chord with Kashmir,î she asserts.
Another male devotee, echoing similar sentiments, said, ìWe are devotees of Mata Kheer Bhawani. We will pray for peace and prosperity for J&K and our country so that we can return to our roots forever.î
J&K BJYM vice president Devyani Rana was also there, following his late father Devender Singh Ranaís steps, who being representative of Nagrota assembly segment would always be an integral part of the flagging off ceremony to wish pilgrims a successful journey.
Devyani, while speaking to media persons, said, ìThis was a heartening experience to be here among the devotees embarking on the annual pilgrimage. We wish them a successful spiritual Yatra. May the Goddess fulfil all their wishes!î
With regard to queries about security concerns, she exuded confidence about ìfoolproof arrangements made by the J&K Government.î
ìDevotees should not have any apprehensions. Rest assured, they will be safe and secure. We invite the people from across India to come for pilgrimage as they used to do or as they would have planned for this year,î she reassured.
Earlier the annual Yatra was ceremoniously flagged off by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Jammu zone, Bhim Sen Tuti, from Nagrota amid multi-layer security.
DIG Shiv Kumar Sharma; Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Sachin Kumar Vaishya; Relief Commissioner, Arvind Karwani; SSP Jammu Joginder Singh; SP Rural Jammu, Brijesh Kumar besides other officers.
ìElaborate administrative and security arrangements to ensure the safe passage of devotees are in place. We wish the pilgrims a blissful journey ahead,î SSP Jammu said, while responding to media queries.
Relief Commissioner, Arvind Karwani said, ìThe UT administration has taken comprehensive measures to ensure a safe, peaceful and spiritually fulfilling yatra for all pilgrims. Besides adequate security, health facilities, cleanliness, food and lodging arrangements have been made with great precision. They will halt at Ramban where similar arrangements have been made. We have arranged over 60 buses. More buses will be arranged as and when needed.î
