Srinagar: A comparatively smaller number of pilgrims have turned up at the Kheer Bhawani temple at Tulmulla in Ganderbal district on the eve of the annual mela being celebrated on Wednesday.
However, the colour of the famous spring at the shrine has turned sky blue and the devotees are in high spirits.
Virendra Koul, a devotee who presently resides in New Delhi, said their spirits were high and faith had got nothing to do with fear.
“I am from Srinagar basically and I am here for the past two days. I had a call from ‘Mata’ and I came here. Yes, fear is there but faith is something different. Faith has got nothing to do with fear,” he said.
Hindu Welfare Society Kashmir (HWSK) president Chunni Lal Bhat admitted that there was fear among the devotees but said he was glad that the Kheer Bhawani spring had changed its colour to sky blue now.
“The colour of the spring had turned red last month and then killings of minorities took place. Whenever the colour of the Kheer Bhawani spring turns red or black, it is a bad omen. There is fear among the devotees and many did not turn up for the mela this year as compared to the past. However, we are glad that the water in the spring presently has light sky blue colour,” he said.
Ashok Kumar Koul, also from New Delhi, said they were waiting for the return of normalcy so that Kashmiri Pandits returned to their homeland.
“Fear is there outside….but, we do not have fear after coming here. There are adequate security measures. We should not return to a 90 like situation. We are waiting for things to return to normal so that we come back to Kashmir,” he said.
Another devotee said they had to overcome the fear and support the government in maintaining normalcy.
“Fear is there but it is our annual pilgrimage and we have to support the government and overcome the fear. Yes, minority killings have happened but we can only hope for the situation to improve in the coming days,” he said.
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