MKBJYWS, TFJ, VHP, VKS express satisfaction on successful culmination of Mata Kheer Bhawani yatra, laud efforts of KPs, LG Administration

Jammu, May 31, 2023: Mata Kheer Bhawani Ji Yatra Welfare Society (MKBJYWS) alongwith Tourism Federation of Jammu (TFJ), Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Vishwa Kashmiri Samaj (VKS) and Global Solace (GS) have expressed complete satisfaction over the successful culmination of annual Mata Kheer Bhawani Yatra at Tulmul and other places in Kashmir division and has lauded the efforts of Kashmiri Pandit yatris, volunteers and other groups besides the Kashmir administration for the success of the yatra.

This was disclosed by Kiran Wattal, President and MK Yogi, General Secretary MKBJYWS and other leaders while addressing a joint press conference in this regard here today.

Those who attended the joint press conference include, Kiran Wattal convener, MK Yogi, General Secretary MKBJYWS, Shakti Dutt Sharma, Vice President VHP, Raman Suri, General Secretary, TFJ, Rajan Gupta, Vice President, MKBJYWS, Prem Sharma Advisor VKS, MK Raina, Comrade Mohan Lal, Ashok Kumar Bhat, Daya Krishan Pandita, Dr. TK Bhat, Raju Sehgal and Anil Bhan and was supported by Jawala Ji Samiti, Khrew, Temples and Shrines Prabhandak Committee, Tral, Muthi Welfare Committee, Kashmiri Migrant Democratic Front, Kashmiri Hindu Migrant Front, Association of Religious Tour Operators, Katra, JK Thinkers Forum, Bhaderwah Travel Association and representatives of Camp and Non Camp migrants.

The leaders while appreciating the local administration, Divisional Administration, Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner KK Sidha, and LG Manoj Sinha in particular for his direct supervision, said that the arrangements and warm welcome given extended to Kashmiri Pandit Yatris was excellent and every effort was made to make the yatra smooth, peaceful, secure and spiritual which would not have been possible without the full support from the Divisional and local administration and the Relief and Rehabilitation department.

The leaders said that this was the historic moment for all that such a large number of devotees participated in this year’s annual yatra, which indicates that J&K was on the path of development adding more than 4,000 devotees had bhandara arranged by the Ramban administration while on their way to Kashmir.

They said that many volunteers of Mata Kheer Bhawani Ji Yatra Welfare Society (MKBJYWS), worked tirelessly for the proper implementation of all these arrangements and assisted the Ramban and Ganderbal administration for smooth implementation of the arrangements.  were already there at Ramban to assist the administration.

Elaborating about the incident that saw some protests at Ganderbal when yatra reached there the leaders said that due to some communication gap and inclement weather some problems arose due to which pilgrims faced accommodation and other problems on reaching Tulmulla and staged a protest adding the situation was tackled by the volunteers of MKBJYWS immediately as there was a huge rush of pilgrims who resented that no senior officer from the administration was present to oversee the arrangements.

They said that the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir and ADGP took immediate action and made all the necessary arrangements within no time to pacify the pilgrims and expressed thankfulness to the Home Secretary who intervened personally to pacify the situation.

The leaders also expressed thanks to various social, religious and employee organisations for elaborate arrangements of lunch at Shiv Shakti Bhandara, prasad and hawan at Mandir Parisar, Bhajan, Kirtan and Satsang besides the Orzu cultural and sports organisation for providing fruits to the pilgrims.

The leaders thanked Vivekananda Kendra Achabal, PM Package Employees, J&K Bank, Police Department, Information Department Govt and private Stalls established for the joyous and colourful yatra.

It may be recalled that the pilgrims, including men, women and children, left Nagrota in 125 buses of SRTC amid tight security besides dozens of private buses and cars carrying pilgrims. The yatra was flagged off by divisional commissioner Jammu, Ramesh Kumar and relief commissioner K K Sidha in the presence of Mata Kheer Bhawani Ji Yatra Welfare Society convenor Kiran Wattal, general secretary M K Yogi and advisory board members – Prem Sharma & Dr T K Bhat.

At Ramban, the yatra was received and warmly welcomed by deputy commissioner Mussarat Islam & SSP Mohita Sharma. A bhandara was also organised at Ramban by the administration for yatris. After a detailed discussion and taking a halt, the yatra left for Tulamulla.

Entire administration was fully geared up to provide every facility, like drinking water, medicare and security to the yatris en-route the holy cave shrine.

Mata Kheer Bhawani is a highly pious shrine of Hindus and an annual fair is held at the Tullamulla temple of the Goddess. Lakhs of pilgrims, including Kashmiri Pandits, Jammu Dogras and Hindus from rest of the country, visit the shrine on the eve of annual fair to pay obeisance to the Almighty Goddess.