Srinagar, June 4 -- A large number of Hindu devotees, mostly Kashmiri Pandits, converged at Tulmulla to take part in prayers and celebrations during the annual fair at the Mata Kheer Bhawani temple in central Kashmir's Ganderbal on Tuesday. Owing to the fear perception after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, the footfall of people was less than the past few years. Leaders from different parties hailed the gathering and also called for return of Pandits to the Valley. Lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha, who participated in the prayers, said this was the biggest gathering in Kashmir at any place since the Pahalgam attack on April 22. As many as 26 people, including 25 tourists, were killed in a terror attack in Pahalgam in south Kashmir in April, triggering the flight of thousands of tourists out of the Valley. Sinha said the preparations for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra were also complete. "Amarnath yatra preparations have been completed from security perspectives as well. I request the devotees to come (in good numbers)," he said. Surrounded by Chinar trees, the Kheer Bhawani temple houses Hindu Goddess Ragnya Devi at Tulmulla village, about 27 km from Srinagar, and welcomes the biggest Hindu festival to be celebrated in the Kashmir Valley second only to the Amarnath yatra. A devotee from Srinagar, Ayush said the mela was affected owing to the threat perception after the Pahalgam attack. "This time the number of participants are one-third of what used to come," he said. Last year, the officials had said that 30,000 pilgrims visited while in 2023, 33,000 pilgrims had participated in the mela. The atmosphere was also reflective of the communal harmony owing to the presence of a number of local Muslims in and outside the Hindu shrine. Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah visited the shrine. "We will continue to live in this brotherhood. We met our brothers and sisters and spread a message of happiness," Farooq Abdullah said. Mehbooba Mufti advocated for the return of Kashmir Pandits, urging for the start of political process with Pandits playing their role....