At Government Higher Secondary School Qaimoh, we believe education extends beyond textbooks — it encompasses the culture, heritage, and shared experiences that shape our society. Today, June 3, 2025, is observed as a holiday in the Kashmir region in reverence of two profoundly meaningful events: Mela Kheer Bhawani and the Urs of Shah-i-Hamdan Sahib (RA).
🛕 Mela Kheer Bhawani – A Pilgrimage of Devotion and Memory
Celebrated at the sacred Kheer Bhawani Temple in Tulmulla, this festival is a spiritual homecoming for the Kashmiri Pandit community. Devotees gather around the spring-fed shrine dedicated to Ragnya Devi, offering prayers and kheer (rice pudding) as a symbol of devotion and purity.
The festival is more than a religious gathering; it is a solemn reminder of communal harmony, memory, and identity for displaced communities, and a testament to Kashmir’s pluralistic soul.
🕌 Urs of Shah-i-Hamdan (RA) – Remembering the Saint of Light
Today also marks the Urs (death anniversary) of Mir Syed Ali Hamadani, the 14th-century Persian Sufi scholar, poet, and reformer who is credited with deeply influencing Islamic philosophy, art, and culture in Kashmir. Known affectionately as Shah-i-Hamdan, his arrival in Kashmir laid the foundation for a spiritually enriched and culturally advanced society.
His teachings continue to inspire ideals of compassion, unity, knowledge, and humility.
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🌿 A Day of Reflection
In honour of these significant observances, our school remains closed today. However, we encourage our students, staff, and the wider community to use this day not as a mere pause in academic routine, but as a moment of reflection — on the shared legacies that bind us, and the spiritual and cultural roots that nourish our collective identity.
Let us embrace the essence of the day with reverence, thoughtfulness, and unity.
📚 Classes will resume on Wednesday, June 4, 2025.
