Opinion | Mela Kheer Bhawani: Kashmir’s Living Testament to Communal Harmony and Spiritual Oneness

In a world increasingly shadowed by division and discord there are still places where the soul of humanity breathes freely—where faith unites rather than fragments and tradition becomes a sanctuary for togetherness. One such sacred space lies quietly in the heart of Kashmir: the Mela Kheer Bhawani, a luminous celebration that transcends religion and radiates the spirit of oneness.

Every year as the fragrant breeze of Jyestha Ashtami brushes through the ancient Chinars of Tula Mula the village awakens to a rare and beautiful sight. Thousands of Kashmiri Pandits, many returning after decades of exile, walk through the temple gates of Kheer Bhawani with folded hands, eyes moist with memory and hearts heavy with longing. They come not only to offer kheer and prayers to Goddess Ragnya Devi but to reconnect with a homeland that still whispers their names in the rustle of leaves and the ripples of the sacred spring.

The origins of this sacred shrine as narrated by Ravinder Pandita Head of Save Sharda Committee Kashmir Regd are steeped in ancient lore. “It is believed that the Goddess Ragnya was carried by Hanuman from Sri Lanka and first settled in Manzgam and Logripora in South Kashmir followed by Tikker in Kupwara and then Badipora in Budgam. Finally the Goddess took the form of water and chose her eternal abode in Tula Mulla in the district of Ganderbal.” Thus this shrine is not merely a place of worship—it is a living relic of the Ramayana era sanctified further by visits from great spiritual luminaries like Adi Shankaracharya and in the last century Swami Vivekananda who is said to have experienced profound mystical revelations here. After journeying through four abodes in the Valley the Goddess chose Tulmulla as her final resting place—infusing the land with sanctity beyond measure.

What makes this pilgrimage more than a religious observance is the quiet presence of those who never left—the Muslim villagers of Ganderbal—who sweep the courtyards decorate the shrine arrange food and water and welcome the returning devotees like family. It is here in these humble acts that the true soul of Kashmir reveals itself. No speeches no banners—just a shared breath of reverence and a silent understanding that love outlives loss.

The temple itself surrounded by a mystic spring known to change its hues reflects the emotional tides of the Valley. When peace prevails the waters shine with clarity; when unrest stirs darker shades emerge. But no matter the color of the spring the color of human compassion remains undimmed. That Muslims have safeguarded this Hindu shrine for decades—even through the turbulence of the 1990s—speaks not of obligation but of devotion of a bond that no political tempest could sever.

For the displaced Pandits Mela Kheer Bhawani is not just a return to a physical shrine but a homecoming of the soul. They sit under the Chinars share stories with old neighbors and for a few days time folds back to a Kashmir that once was—a Kashmir of shared meals shared songs and shared silences. For the Muslims who host them it is not charity but continuity a living proof that Kashmiriyat—though bruised—is far from broken.

In an age where communities are too often viewed through lenses of fear and difference this festival remains a rare shining mirror of what is possible. It whispers to the world that faith when untouched by ego or extremism can be the most powerful bridge of all. The image of a Pandit lighting incense while a Muslim arranges shoes at the temple gate is not an anomaly—it is the truest face of Kashmir.

And yet this sacred harmony must not be taken for granted. As Mela Kheer Bhawani gathers strength year after year it must also gather support. Civil society media and administration must treat it not just as a ritual but as cultural heritage worth celebrating and protecting. In these difficult times such moments of convergence must be amplified for they remind us that no wound is too deep to heal when hearts remain open.

Let the bells of Kheer Bhawani continue to ring across the Valley—not just as a call to prayer but as a song of unity. Let the pilgrims return year after year to the land that cradled their ancestors. And let the world remember that even in a land often portrayed through the prism of pain the most enduring stories are still those of love resilience and togetherness.