The annual Mata Kheer Bhawani Mela is held at the Mata Kheer Bhawani Temple in Tulmulla, Ganderbal district, drawing thousands of devotees on Monday, June 22, 2026. The festival culminates on Jyestha Ashtami and is dedicated to Goddess Ragnya Devi, an incarnation of Goddess Durga. Devotees gather from across Jammu and Kashmir and from other parts of India to participate in prayers and traditional rituals at the historic shrine. Reports describe the temple area being decorated with lights and flowers, while worshippers light lamps, offer kheer (rice pudding) and other items, and take part in religious ceremonies, including an early-morning aarti.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha visits the temple and offers prayers, extending greetings to devotees and praying for peace, prosperity, and the well-being of citizens. Local officials also report heightened security and multi-layered arrangements around the temple to support the pilgrimage. The mela is presented as a significant religious and cultural event for the Kashmiri Pandit community, including family participation and community bonding, at a shrine known for a sacred spring whose water is believed to change colour.
