STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Annual Jhiri Mela concluded on Thursday with overwhelming participation of people from different parts of country at Shama Chak Jhiri.
On the concluding day, first prize was received by Horticulture Department for their fruit show while the second prize/mementoes was given to Agriculture Department. Third prize was given to team of SVEEP for their stall.
Cash prize of Rs. 10,000 was also given to Horticulture Department, Rs. 7000 to Agriculture and Rs. 5000 was given to SVEEP.
Under SVEEP programme, a play by Natrang was staged at Jhiri with the aim to educate and create awareness among the people for maximum participation in the elections which was the main motive of District Election Officer Ajeet Kumar Sahu.
On the occasion, Director Rural Development Shafiq Ahmed Raina was the Chief Guest while ADC Kalyan Singh Parihar was the Guest of Honour.
Among others, ACD Jammu Suram C. Sharma, SDM Marh Sunaina Sharma, Deputy Director CAPD Babu Ram, BDO Bhalwal Waseem Raja and other senior functionaries of different departments were also present.
The Jhiri Mela is one of the most popular fairs in North India began in 6th November and received a huge rush of devotees.
The small village Jhiri, located about 22 km from Jammu, was beautifully decorated for the yearly event with lakhs of devotees from within and outside the State including Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pardesh thronging the place to pay obeisance to Baba Jitu Mal- a farmer, who had preferred to end his life instead of facing injustice at the hands of greedy landlords.
The Jhiri Mela is organised by the people to pay their tribute to the Baba Jit Mal, also known as the Baba Jitto to commemorate his sacrifice.
The devotees took holy dip at Baba da Talab, a pond known for healing power and paid obeisance at the temple constructed in the memory of the saint farmer. It is believed that by taking a dip in the pond people can get rid of several skin diseases and cure the victims of witchcraft.
Devotees also seek blessings of Bua Kodi, the daughter of Jitto, who had jumped on the pyre of the Baba.