Kashmir's Mela Kher Bhavani Mela cancelled

Srinagar, May 27 (IANS) The annual Kheer Bhawani Mela and Yatra, scheduled for May 30, will not take place due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to the J&K Dharmarth Trust, here on Wednesday.Mubarak Singh, president of the Trust, said the Dharmath council decided to cancel the fair and pilgrimage this year keeping in view the peoples' health.However, prayers would take place at the shrine, Singh said and added, its video would be uploaded on internet for devotees across J&K and the country.Every year thousands of Kashmiri Pandits arrive for the Kheer Bhawani mela at Ganderbal, 27 km from here. It's a religious festival where Hindus hold prayers at the temple and local Muslims set up stalls to sell puja materials and make arrangements for the fair.The fair is symbolic of the Valley's religious harmony that came apart in the early 90s when Pandits were forced to leave following eruption of militancy in Kashmir.
--IANS zi/pcj