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| Annual Jhiri mela starts on Nov 19 | | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Nov 17: Jhiri mela, an annual fair being celebrated at village Aghar Jitto in district Jammu in memory of revolutionary farmer Jitmal, who laid down his life against the feudal tyranny, is going to be held from November 19 to November 24 this year.
The fair is celebrated by lakhs of people from the different states by paying their obeisance at the samadhi of ‘revolutionary farmer’ Baba Jit Mal, popularly known as Baba Jitto at Shama Chak Jhiri.
All the arrangements of requisite infrastructure at the site of Mela, such as water, electricity, traffic and security has been made for the smooth functioning of the Mela.
Baba Jitoo, a simple and honest farmer who preferred to kill himself rather than submit to the unjust demands of the local landlord to part with his crop and his seven year old daughter Bua Kouri who set herself ablaze on the pyre of her father Baba Jitu are the two martyrs which are tributed every year by celebrating the mela.
According to the folklore, Jit Mal (1426-1474), a poor farmer used to live in Aghar village near Katra, Vaishno Devi. He was an honest farmer who worked hard day and night in the fields to make them lush green, when asked by a tyrant, Bir Singh-a local feudal lord to lift three fourth of the crop and leave only a quarter with Jitto. Baba Jitto prayed to follow the terms of the agreement but all his requests fell on deaf ears. Most of the farmers from nearby areas, who gathered could not stop land lord due to fear of the King’s men.
When no one helped him, Jitto sat on the heap of grain and stabbed himself with a dagger. Baba’s seven years old daughter Bua Kouri also set herself ablaze on the pyre of her father.
To repent their misdeeds, local king Ajaib Dev and Bir Singh built a temple at the site of martyrdom and after that a fair was held in their memory.
The main attraction of this mela is Dangal (Indian style wrestling) which takes place there every year and many participants from different states take part in that. For the people coming from all over India, one important ritual during the Jhiri Mela is to take a holy dip in Babe-da-Talab’ which is known to have powers for curing skin disorders.
In addition to being a religious event, the mela also provide marketing outlet to the local sugarcane growers. As the area is famous for sugarcane crop, most of visitors in Mela purchase sugarcane and take it along with them. People from all over India come to Jammu during the time of Jhiri Mela to pay homage to Baba Jitoo and his holy soul.
During the fair, exhibitions are organized that cater to diverse variety of articles ranging from pottery, vases, utensils and toys to books on Baba Jitoo.
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