EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Nov 13: Week-long Jhiri Mela at the Devsthan of Bawa Jittoo, near Akhnoor, was inaugurated by the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Mr. Sudhanshu Pandey, here this afternoon.
Additional Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, SSP, Jammu, Programme Officer, DRDA, Jammu, Jhiri Mela Officer and other senior officers of PHE, RDD, PDD, Agriculture, Horticulture, Handicrafts, Floriculture, Health, Sericulture and Industry departments were present on the occasion.
Elaborate arrangements of power, drinking water, medicare facilities and security have been made by the administration at the mela site.
About 2 lakh locals as well as those from adjoining states of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi today thronged the mela site to pay homage to the brave farmer who fought against the tyranny of the landlords.
The Jhiri Mela is organized every year on Kartik Purnima in memory of Bawa Jittoo, a saint-farmer who fought against injustice and protected the rights of the poor peasantry .
After inauguration, the Divisional Commissioner also inspected stalls put up by Agriculture, Horticulture, Sericulture, Rural Development, KVIB and Handloom Development Departments etc. Free langars were also organized for the devotees.
Earlier, Mr. Pandey accompanied by the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, and Jhiri Mela Officer also paid obeisance at the temple of Bawa Jittoo and prayed for peace, prosperity and harmony in the State.
Interacting with the representatives of the Jhiri Mela Management Committee, the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu said that a record number of over 8 lakh devotees are expected this year at the revered shrine of Bawa Jitto in the weeklong Jhiri Mela that formally commenced on November 13
He was informed that the district administration, Jammu has made special arrangements for transportation of the devotees coming from different parts of the State as well as from outside the State.
The Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department has set up fair price shops at Jhiri to provide rice, atta, sugar and kerosene oil to the pilgrims staying there.
For proper sanitation and maintenance of hygiene, the Rural Development Department has constructed 150 sanitation units at Jhiri and Bawa Talab for the convenience of the visitors. |
