SAMBA, June 27 : The annual mela at Baba Chamliyal Shrine was held with great fervor as thousands of devotees from across the state and outside thronged the centuries old shrine of Baba Chamlayal near International Border in Ramgarh of District Samba in Jammu and Kashmir to seek blessings and cure for physical and spiritual ailments.
The District Administration, keeping in view the ever increasing pilgrim rush had made elaborate arrangements for the fair including traffic regulation, medical facilities, drinking water facility, security arrangements and additional buses to accommodate the rush of pilgrims. The District Administration has also organized an exhibition highlighting the schemes and programmes being implemented by various departments. The Annual Fair was inaugurated by Former Minister and MLA Vijaypur, Surjit Singh Slathia. On the occasion a flag meeting with Pakistani Rangers was also organized by the BSF at the International Border which was attended by DIG, BSF, Deputy Commissioner, Samba, R.K Varma, Senior Superintendent of Police besides other senior officers. On the occasion, the Sweets were also exchanged to mark annual celebration of Baba Chamliyal Mela. Thousands of devotees stood on both sides of the border to have a glimpse of the ritual of handing over of a ‘chaddar’ to the BSF officers by the Pakistani Rangers for being laid on the Dargah of Baba Chamliyal. The local administration and BSF handed over the 'shakkar’ 'and 'sharbat to thousands of devotees who eagerly wait for the same on the other side of the border.
It was informed that Mela Chamliyal is celebrated in the memory of Baba Dalip Singh Manhas every year in June in the village of Chamliyal on the Indo –Pak border 40 kms from Jammu. The Unique feature of this mela is that Baba Chamliyal is revered by people on both sides of the international border.People of all religions in thousands throng the shrine during the festivities. A meeting of the BSF and the Pakistan Rangers is held on the international Border on this day. The BSF presents shakar and sharbat to the Pakistan Rangers who in turn present chadar for the mazar of the Baba. People from other states like Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Rajasthan come in thousands to pay homage at the shrine.
Agriculture, Horticulture Animal/Sheep husbandry handlooms, handicrafts, employment and social welfare departments installed their stalls at the occasion to make people aware about the schemes being implemented by these departments. |
