The annual Kashmiri Pandits’ festival Zyestha Ashtami or Mela Kheer Bhawani on Wednesday witnessed a subdued participation from the community in the wake of recent killings of members of the minority community in Kashmir.
Anita, a Kashmiri Pandit, who has been visiting the Kheer Bhawani temple since 1994, said the number of devotees has “significantly come down” this year.
“I have been coming to the temple since I was in Class 4 in 1994. This year is marked by the difference in the presence of devotees at the temple premises. Earlier, we would not get space to walk but one could roam freely this year,” Ms. Anita, who was accompanied by two other Pandit families, said.
