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| Shakkar, Mitti and 125 years of faith…. | | |
ET CORRESPONDENT
Chamalyal, , June 28: The geographical boundaries may have changes and the geopolitical realities altered, but once unique feature on the Indo-Pak border –which has been witness to at least four wars –refuses to change even after 125 years.
It is faith all the way. People from India and Pakistan and belonging to Hindu and Muslim religions transcend all barriers to have blessings of Baba Chablyal. The Shakkar and Mitti –believed to have curing powers –is keenly awaited on both sides of border as people rush here to attend this annual fair.
The staunch devotees of the Baba are always in frenzy, dancing to the drumbeats at the shrine just at stone’s throw away from the international boundary –that geographically divided India and Pakistan into two.
There were loud cheers when a contingent of Pakistani border guards - Rangers - arrived to lay a "chadar" (cloth) at the shrine - a traditional way of paying homage to the saints.
Across the border, thousands of Pakistanis in their festive dresses were waiting for the BSF trolleys that finally delivered them their share of "sharbat" (water) and "shakkar" (soil). Soil in the surroundings of this shrine is referred to as "shakkar" (sugar) and water of a nearby well is called "sharbat" (beverage). The mix of the two, the belief goes, cures skin diseases.
While Pakistanis stood on the border, Indians were dancing and singing folklore hailing Baba Chamlayal - the symbol of the Hindu-Muslim brotherhood and whose appeal travels beyond the man made barriers.
Baba, whose real name was Daleep Singh Manhas was known for his "magical" powers, the legend says about him. His popularity spread far and wide, which was unbearable for a few and one day he was murdered in the area - where wild grass grows in plenty.
The legend has it that where his blood fell, the land developed the magical soil and a well was created at the site where his head was placed. The soil and water are mixed and the paste is applied on the skin to cure diseases.
Devotees narrated tales of having got rid of the skin diseases as they encouraged others to apply earth and water paste on their bodies.
"I had strange spots on my arms and chest and they have disappeared," Bandana Sharma of Gurdaspur of neighbouring state of Punjab said. "As long as I am alive, I will visit the shrine every year. Baba has given me a new life."
Her belief was shared by many in the fair that attracted several hundreds of people from Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir and neighbouring states of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh.
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