CHENANI: The three- day Historic Sudhmahadev Mela in Chenani Tehsil of Udhampur District got underway amidst colourful festivity around the Mela site on Monday. Thousands of devotes thronged to Sudhmahadev Temple to seek the blessing of Lord Shiva during first day of three-day Mela.
MLA Chenani, Dina Nath, MLC, Vikram Aditya Singh and Deputy Commissioner, Udhampur, Dr. Shahid Iqbal Choudhary jointly inaugurated the Mela with full enthusiasm.
While speaking on the occasion , the DC congratulated the people and said such Melas are helpful in exchanging our cultural , tradition and people from far flung area meet to their near ones in such Melas. These Melas are playing a pivotal role in maintaining, brotherhood, peace and prosperity.
Earlier, DC accompanied by MLA and MLC paid obeisance before the adobe of Lord Shiv and prayed for peace and prosperity.
They also inspected various departments stalls like Agriculture, Horticulture, Health, National Rural Health Mission, Apiculture, Handicraft, Handloom and Animal Husbandry and exhorted upon the officers to educate the masses about the various state and centrally sponsored schemes especially for socio economic upliftment of the rural people.
During the first day of three days Mela, the devotees first bathe in the Beenisangam called Budhisudhi rivulet, which flows out from top of the Dhar Shivgarh and is considered an abode of innumerable saints. Therefore, the devotees take bath in sin destroying spring (Pap Nashni Bowli) situated just at the entrance of the temple.
District administration has made elaborate arrangements for the smooth conduct of the Mela like uninterrupted power, safe drinking water, sanitation, medicare, Police Control Room, assistance both and security.
On the occasion Department of Youth Service and Sports Udhampur also arranged cultural programme for the entertainment of people at the Mela site.
Number of temporary sweet shops, toy shops and other eatable corners by the locals as well as outside vendors were the main attraction for the general public visiting the Mela site. Out numbered children were seen enjoying the Handola rides.
Sub Divisional Magistrate Chenani, D.K Sharma, Tehsildar Chenani, (Mela Officer), O.P Bhagat, senior officers of different departments, pilgrims, prominent citizens and Local Mela Committee members were also present on the occasion.