IN PICS | Kashmiri Pandits Celebrate Mata Kheer Bhawani Mela In J&K Under Shadow Of Targeted Killings

People from the Kashmiri Pandit community celebrated the annual Mata Kheer Bhawani Mela on Wednesday in Tullamulla village of Jammu Kashnir's Ganderbal district. Image Source: PTI

A security personnel performs puja during the annual Kheer Bhawani mela at Tulmulla in Ganderbal district. The festival is celebrated each year on Zyestha Ashtami. Image Source: PTI

Tullamulla shrine in addition to being the holiest shrine of the local Kashmiri Pandit community is also the symbol of centuries old eclectic culture and brotherhood among different communities of Kashmir. Image Source: PTI

This annual event becomes more important this year as Kashmiri Pandits live under loom of targeted killings in the valley. Due to this reason, the devotee attendance remained low this year. Image Source: PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted his wishes to the community on the occasion. Greetings to everyone, especially my Kashmiri Pandit sisters and brothers on Jyeshtha Ashtami. We pray to Mata Kheer Bhawani for everyone’s well-being and prosperity, he tweeted. Image Source: PTI

Kashmiri Pandits have been keeping their annual tryst with the deity despite their mass exodus in 1990s because of separatist violence. Image Source: PTI