The Excuse of Kheer Bhawani

This is a Guest Post by Shreen Malik from Kashmir University

The mystic waters of Kheer Bhawani once again drew Kashmiri Pandits in large numbers to their homeland. The grand festival of Kheer Bhwanai was observed on May 31 at the holy shrine of Kheer Bhawani in Maheshaspora village about 25 km from Srinagar. The significance of this festival goes beyond religious sentiments and has become a sort of spiritual homecoming for thousands of Kashmiri Pandits.

The Kashmiri Pandits, the descendents of Hindu priest and among the original inhabitants of Kashmir valley, were forced out of their homes following the rise of Islamic militancy in the region in 1989. According to some analysis the Kashmiri Pandits were forced to flee due to the attempts of ethnic cleansing by the militant groups in Kashmir. Many others blame the acquiescent approach of the State and Central Governments for the exodus of the Kashmiri Pandits from their traditional homeland. Whatever may have been the cause, thousands of Kashmiri Pandits continue to live as refugees in their own country and Kheer Bhawani Mela is the only occasion for them to re-visit their native land.
From the early 1990 slogans of ‘Kashmir mei agar rehna hai, Allah-O-Akbar kehna hai’ (If you want to stay in Kashmir, you have to say that Allah is great) to recent attempts at branding them as ‘migrants’, the Kashmiri Pandits continue to be involved in a struggle for securing democratic rights and preserving group identity. More than 300,0000 Kashmiri Pandits fled from the valley in 1989 and have been struggling to find a home for themselves in their own country. The number of voters among the Kashmiri Pandit population has witnessed a 52%  drop since 1996 reflecting the community’s disinterest in the democratic process. Most of the Kashmiri Pandits long for returning to their ancestral roots but the political process has little hope to offer. This leaves the Pandits with the only option of visiting their homeland as tourists during the Kheer Bhawani Mela.
The festivities at Kheer Bhawani during the Jesht Astami (May-June) not only highlight the rich cultural traditions of the Kashmiri Pandits but also establish that the fact that inter-faith harmony in Kashmir is a victim of political agendas rather than communal hatred. The flowers, lamps and other religious accessories required during the festivities of Kheer Bhawani are sold by the local Muslim population. Shopkeepers give away store items as gifts to visiting Pandits. Local Muslim residents loiter around the temple premises in hope to meeting their erstwhile Pandit neighbors and friends who were forced to leave the valley. The Pandits never fail to acknowledge the efforts of locals Muslims which makes the Kheer Bhawani mela a possibility despite the unrest.
Senior Hurriyat leader Shabir Ahmad has welcomed the Pandits during the Kheer Bhawani for several years and extended his best wishes this year from his home where he has been placed under house-arrest. For many young devotees Kheer Bhawani offers the first time personal encounter with the land from which their families were ousted.
The idol of Kheer Bhawani is placed in a hexagonal spring within the temple premises. The legend goes that the devotees offer Kheer (rice and milk pudding) to the Goddess and in answer to their prayers for guidance the water of the spring changes its color as an indication of the coming times. The spring water has turned black at times and this is considered to be a bad omen. If the waters of Kheer Bhwani are any indication the near future holds hope for the large refugee population of Kashmiri Pandits. The thaw in Indo-Pak relations and drop in incidnets of violence are encouraging developments. But in the long run the Kashmiri Pandits are waiting for the time when they don’t have to use Kheer Bhawani as an excuse and return to their homelnad without fear. Hopefully their prayers will be answered one day.