Jammu, June 21 -- More than 9,000 pilgrims, mostly Kashmiri Pandits, departed Jammu on Saturday in a convoy of 200 J&K Road Transport Corporation buses for the annual Kheer Bhawani Mela.

Official data indicates that pilgrim participation is significantly higher this year than in recent years-rising from roughly 2,500 post-pandemic transit pilgrims in 2022 to over 9,000 today-reflecting a surging enthusiasm to reconnect with cultural roots.

The convoy was jointly flagged off by Nagrota MLA Devyani Rana, relief commissioner Arvind Karwani, and deputy inspector general of police Shridhar Patil, following the implementation of comprehensive security, transport, accommodation, and medical arrangements to ensure a smooth transit.

Many pilgri...