Kheer Bhawani is a temple dedicated to the Goddess Kheer Bhawani (originally just Bhawani) constructed over a sacred spring. The worship of Kheer Bhawani is universal among the Hindus of Kashmir. The temple is situated at a distance of 14 miles east of Srinagar near the village of Tul Mul. The term kheer refers to rice pudding that is offered in the spring to propitiate the Goddess, which became part of the name of the temple. As is the custom with Hindu deities, she has many names: Maharagya Devi, Ragnya Devi, Rajni, Ragnya Bhagwati, and so on.
Kheer Bhawani Temple is a celebrated Hindu shrine. The temple is constructed above a sacred spring, which is said to change its colors. Goddess Ragnya Devi – an incarnation of Goddess Durga – is the presiding deity of this temple. The temple attributes its unique name to the famous Indian dessert kheer, which is the main offering to the goddess.
Maharaja Pratap Singh built this temple in 1912, which was later renovated by Maharaja Hari Singh. The shrine has a hexagonal spring and a small marble shrine where the goddess' idol is installed. According to legends, Lord Rama worshipped the goddess during his exile. He expressed his desire of shifting the holy seat to Shadipora, which was fulfilled by Lord Hanuman. The temple was shifted to its present site after the goddess appeared in the dream of a local pundit named Rugnath Gadroo.
On the eighth day of the full moon in May, devotees gather at the Kheer Bhawani Temple and observe fasts. It is believed that Goddess Ragnya changes the spring's color on this auspicious day. If the color changes to black, it is considered a bad omen that would result in a disaster in the valley. The temple organizes fairs and yagnas during its annual festival and navratras, which attract a large number of devotees. Hawans on Shukla Paksh Ashtami are also common in this temple.
Located amidst the beautiful Chinar trees and rippling rivers, lies the Kheer Bhawani Temple is the abode of Goddess Ragnya Devi. The idol is kept in a white marble temple. According to the Hindu mythology, Lord Rama worshipped Ragnya Devi during his exile and after the exile was over he shifted her abode to Shadipora from where it was shifted here according to the wish of Ragnya Devi. There is a beautiful spring located near the temple.
