Tulmul Travels

Astha Zalpuri

Being a Kashmiri Pandit, I have heard a lot about the Kheer Bhawani Temple from my parents and grandparents. During my childhood, I used to sit with my grandmother and listen to stories about the temple and how the colour of the water would change as a sign of an impending calamity. In the 90s, my family moved to Delhi, unaware that they would never be able to return. After 35 years, on 9 August 2024, I took my parents back to the Kheer Bhawani Temple. I could see the excitement in my father’s eyes as he recalled how he used to bathe in the Jhelum River in front of the temple. He said, “I always wanted to come back here, but I didn’t have the heart to do it. I didn’t know if it would be possible in this lifetime.”

I don’t know much about this place, but Kashmir has my heart. It was my dream to bring my parents back here and show them what they’ve been yearning for all these years. This time, I know I will return, to my home.