Mela Kheer Bhawani Temple

In News 

• The Mata Kheer Bhawani Mela at the famous Ragnya Devi temple near Srinagar is being observed after a hiatus of two years owing to the COVID-19 outbreak.

About Mela Kheer Bhawani temple 

• The temple is dedicated to the goddess Ragnya Devi. Situated 30 km from Srinagar city, it is one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites for Kashmiri Hindus.
• The temple gets its name from kheer, or milk and rice pudding, that pilgrims pour into the spring inside the temple complex as an offering to the goddess.
• Legend has it that the water of the temple’s spring changes colour from white to red and black. 
  • The colour of the water is said to predict the impending future. 
  • If it changes to black, it is seen as inauspicious or an impending disaster

• Every year, a mela or festival is held at the temple.
• It  is the largest gathering of Hindus in Kashmir after the annual Amarnath Yatra. 

Source :IE