A record number of displaced Kashmiri Pandits visited the Kheer Bhawani temple in Ganderbal on June 22, citing improved security in the region.
Over 214 buses transported the devotees to the temple in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district. Local Muslims welcomed them, and regional parties including the National Conference and People's Democratic Party joined the event. Many Pandits described the area as free of fear, allowing travel even at night.
A special puja marked Jyeshtha Ashtam at the temple. Seventeen-year-old Anuja Kaul, visiting Kashmir for the first time from Delhi, said the trip felt like coming home and expressed eagerness to return permanently. Devotees also visited temples in Anantnag, Kulgam, and Kupwara.
Political figures responded to the gathering. NC president Farooq Abdullah called the mela a symbol of communal harmony. PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti urged investment in a shared future. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah sent greetings to the Pandits.