Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Dec 13: A 350-year-old famous temple of Jawala Mukhi Mandir at Khrew in Pulwama district in South Kashmir was gutted due to short circuit, sending Kashmiri Pandits into grief. The temple, located on the Zabarwan Hills, and is reached by chiseled stone steps, was engulfed in fire at 8.30 a.m. today, a police official told Excelsior.
Fire tenders and locals doused the flames, but due to its location, atop hill, the fire could not be doused on time leading to complete gutting of the temple building. The temple is famous among Kashmiri Pandits and is named after Jawala Bhagwati, the Goddess of fire.
Mela Jawala Mukhi is held on the 14th day of the bright fortnight of Savan (July-August) when pilgrims visit this shrine from across the country.
The official said that preliminary report confirms that the cause of the fire is electric shot circuit in the temple building. He said the main structure of the temple was completely gutted in the fire. The official said since the temple structure was made of wooden architecture, the fire engulfed it within seconds.
“Jawala Ji Mandir is one of our revered temples. It is hard to believe that it is now burnt into ashes,” said Behari Lal Goja, a 55-year-old Kashmiri Pandit. Goja said Jawala Ji Temple Khrew is among the ancient shrines of Kashmir Hindus and Goddess is the presiding deity of half of Kashmir Hindus.
“On the day of Arshrad Chaturdashi(Haare Choodeh) a religious congregation is held every year in July-August at this ancient shrine in which thousands of Hindus across the country take part,” the official said.
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