Tulmulla, Jun 22: In a vibrant display of faith, devotion, and communal harmony, thousands of Kashmiri Pandits on Monday thronged the Kheer Bhawani Temple dedicated to Ragnya Devi here in Tulmulla area of Ganderbal district on the occasion of Mela Kheer Bhawani festival which was celebrated with religious fervour. Kashmiri Pandit devotees had start arriving at the famous Kheer Bhawani Temple since Sunday to celebrate the annual festival. The number of devotees was more this year as compared to previous years. The annual Kheer Bhawani Mela remains one of the most important religious events for the Kashmiri Pandit community and continues to attract devotees from across the country every year. Devotees, mostly Kashmiri Pandits from across India and abroad, converged at the Mata Kheer Bhawani shrine in Tulmulla early Monday as the annual Kheer Bhawani Mela began on Jyeshtha Ashtami. The atmosphere was charged with a strong spirit of communal harmony. By sunrise, the temple complex was packed with devotees offering ‘kheer’ — milk and rice pudding - to Ragnya Devi. Many devotees arrived overnight from Srinagar, Jammu, Delhi, and other states. Long queues was formed for darshan, but volunteers and security personnel ensured smooth movement.