JAWALA HILLS, KASHMIR, July 13, 2003: After being silent for over a decade, temple bells are ringing once again in the Kashmir valley as thousands of pilgrims, including Kashmiri Pandits, are thronging the ancient temples in the state. Over 9,000 Kashmiri Pandits visited the 460-years-old wooden temple of “Kalo Mata,” popularly known as “Dolo Bhagwati,” on the Deity’s birth anniversary on Saturday. “I have come here after 13 years to ring the bells of this temple,” said M.K. Raina, who migrated from the valley. “It is homecoming for Pandits, who have come to fulfill their emotional aspirations. Their visiting the valley is a positive sign,” Financial and Revenue Commissioner Hira Lal Kadabaju said. While 70,000 Pandits visited Kheer Bhawani, 20,000 paid obeisance at Mattan Sun temples, another 10,000 visited Jawala Bagwati, he said. Nearly 5,000 devotees offered prayers at Chakrisherwar while 40,000 paid obeisance in Shankaracharya Temple and another 10,000 visited Hari Parbhat.
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