Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 8: This year’s annual yatra to Mata Kheer Bhawani in Kashmir, was flagged off today by Prearna Raina , Additional Secretary, Resident Commission, New Delhi from 5, P.R Road in presence of Ravinder Pandita, head of Save Sharda Committee.
The yatra is organized jointly by KECSS whose president, Dr. Rajinder Tikoo also attended the flagging off ceremony. The yatra and mela is to be held at holy shrine of Kheer Bhawani in Ganderbal district of Central Kashmir, 25 Kms north of Srinagar. The main prayers will be offered on June 10 at holy shrine. Nearly 250 pilgrims from Delhi-NCR region took six buses directly from Delhi to Ganderbal in Kashmir and are likely to return on 12 th June to Delhi. All arrangements and supervision of the yatra will be coordinated by Satish Mahaldar, coordinator.
Speaking to media on the occasion, Ravinder Pandita said “the Kheer Bhawani mela is an old age tradition and Kashmiri Pandits living in exile have despite difficulties managed to stage the yatra every year. Other melas to pay obeisance to Mata Raginya, the presiding deity are also being organized at various locations throughout the Valley”, he added.
Among other prominent personalities present on the occasion were Commodore (Retd.) Dalbir Singh Sodhi, a prominent debator, Vinod Pandita of Resident Commissioner Delhi, Pavitter Handoo from KECSS, journalist Deepika Bhan and others. Delhi Police and traffic police had made elaborate arrangements of smooth sending off of buses.
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