Peace in air, Kheer Bhawani temple echoes with prayers for homecoming
‘From elderly migrants to young first-time visitors, call for return resonate louder than temple bells’
Our Special Correspondent
Tulmulla, (Ganderbal): The sacred spring of Kheer Bhawani in Tulmulla in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district Monday shimmered quietly under the shadow of centuries-old chinar trees as thousands of Kashmiri Pandits gathered for the annual mela, carrying with them not just prayers and offerings, but memories, longing and an unspoken dream of returning home.
At the revered shrine, chants of devotion blended with emotional conversations about roots, identity and belonging. Elderly devotees wiped tears while narrating stories of the Kashmir they once lived in, while younger generations — many born outside the Valley — walked through the temple premises trying to reconnect with a homeland they had known only through family memories.
This year’s mela, devotees said, felt different. For many, the peaceful atmosphere and improved security situation in Kashmir have rekindled hope that the wounds of displacement may slowly begin to heal. Thousands of devotees from Jammu, Delhi, Pune and several other cities thronged the shrine since early morning, offering milk and kheer at the sacred spring while praying for peace, prosperity and safe return to the Valley.
“We always prayed for peace, but this time we are praying with hope,” said 74-year-old Shanta Kaul from Jammu, her voice trembling with emotion. “The atmosphere feels calmer now. We can finally imagine a future where our children and grandchildren may return to their roots.”
Sitting quietly beside the spring, she recalled the walnut trees, neighbours and temple bells of her old village in Kashmir. “We lost homes, but we never lost our connection with this land,” she said.
For many displaced families, the annual pilgrimage to Kheer Bhawani is not merely a religious tradition but an emotional homecoming. The temple premises resembled a reunion of memories. Families clicked photographs near the spring, elderly men exchanged stories of their hometowns, and children listened curiously as grandparents described life in Kashmir before migration.
“There is peace in the air here today,” said Ramesh Tickoo, a devotee from Delhi. “People are visiting without fear. That itself is a huge change. We are beginning to feel that maybe one day returning home may not remain just a dream.”
The strongest emotions perhaps came from the younger generation of Kashmiri Pandits, many of whom are trying to rediscover a cultural identity shaped by displacement.
Twenty-three-year-old Aarti Bhat, visiting Tulmulla with her parents, said the trip had left her overwhelmed. “I had heard about Kheer Bhawani since childhood, but being here feels deeply personal,” she said. “For the first time, I feel connected to the stories my grandparents told us. Kashmir does not feel distant anymore.”
Another young devotee, Aditya Kaul from Pune, said the warmth shown by locals during the mela had deeply moved him. “We met local Muslims who welcomed us warmly and helped people throughout the mela,” he said. “It reminded us that Kashmir’s real identity has always been brotherhood and coexistence. That spirit still survives.”
Local residents were seen assisting pilgrims with transport, refreshments and directions around the shrine, reflecting Kashmir’s centuries-old tradition of communal harmony.
Several devotees said such gestures strengthened their belief that reconciliation and coexistence remain possible despite decades of pain and separation.
“There was a time when fear dominated every conversation about Kashmir,” said Sunita Raina, a devotee from Udhampur. “But now, for the first time in many years, people are speaking about return instead of only remembering exile.” As the day progressed, the temple courtyard filled with devotional songs and emotional embraces. Elderly women sat together reciting hymns while children played beneath the giant chinars, creating scenes that many devotees described as both nostalgic and hopeful.
For Kashmiri Pandits, Mata Kheerbhawani remains more than a shrine. It is a symbol of identity, resilience and an unbroken spiritual connection with Kashmir. And amid the calm atmosphere and emotional prayers at Tulmulla this year, one message echoed louder than the temple bells themselves — the longing to return to the roots.
