Over 60,000 Kashmiripandits from various parts of India and abroad are expected to visit fivefamous temples in the Kashmir valley during “Mela Kheerbhawani”starting on Zeasht Astami on June 10.
Relief Commissioner T K Bhat Tuesdaycompleted his visits to all the five shrines in the Valley to supervise themassive arrangements on the occasion and expressed satisfaction over theadministrative measures for it.
“We have finalised all arrangements inconnections with the yatra. I along with the respective heads of variousdistricts and officers visited all the five temples and put in place all therequired arrangements,” Bhat told reporters here.
For the last few days, Bhat has been busy visitingthe five temples of goddess Ragniya and Mata Tripursundri in Kashmir valley tofinalise the security, boarding and lodging, and transportation facilitiesenroute and at the shrines.
Bhat visited the temples along with AllParty Migrant Coordination committee (APMCC) chairman Vinod Pandita andofficials of various districts where shrines are located.
The administrative teams visited temples ofTulmulla in Ganderbal district, Tikker in Kupwara, Laktipora Aishmuqam inAnantnag and Mata Tripursundri Devsar and Mata Kheerbhawani Manzgam in Kulgamdistrict.
Zeasht Ashtami is celebrated by Kashmiripandits across the country and outside and they try to visit Mela Kheerbawaniin the Valley on the occasion.
This year the mela is expected to attracthuge participation by over 60 to 70,000 displaced Kashmiri pandits, saidPandita.
He said since 2016 the participation byKashmiri pandits has been low, but this year there are indications of a surgein the participation by them.
The Relief Commissioner’s Office hasdeployed over 100 vehicles to ferry people from various migrant camps and otherplaces in Jammu and Delhi to these temples in Kashmir, said Bhat.
Most of the community members are likely toundertake their journey with their families in their own vehicles, but thestate administration too has made transportation arrangements for those, whocannot afford it, he said, adding the registration is still on for facilitatingothers.
The official teams visiting the shrinesreviewed the arrangements for Zeasth Ashtami from 7th to 12th June for devoteesas per Kashmir Divisional commissioner Bashir Ahmad Khan’s directions. Apartfrom the security, other arrangements made by the administration includeavailability of portable water, sanitation, fire and emergency services,blankets, LPG, sleeping bags, cylinders, rice, aata and kerosene oil.