STATE TIMES NEWS
Jammu: The 10-day-long annual Jhiri Mela commenced here on Monday after a two-year gap due to the pandemic with thousands of devotees from across the country thronging the fair to seek blessings at Baba Jittoo temple.
The fair is being jointly organised by the Directorate of Tourism in collaboration with district administration from November 7 to 16.
The Jhiri Mela is held every year during ‘Karthik Purnima’ to pay obeisance at Baba Jittoo temple in village Jhiri to seek blessings.
Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Ramesh Kumar, along with Additional Director General of Police Jammu zone, Mukesh Singh inaugurated the week long annual Jhiri Mela amid huge rush of devotees, an official spokesperson said.
District Development Council Chairman, Bharat Bushan; DDC Member Marh, Balbir Chand; BDC Chairman Marh, Surinder Bhagat; Deputy Commissioner Jammu, Avny Lavasa; DIG, Vivek Gupta; SSP Jammu, Chandan Kohli; local Sarpanches were also present at the inaugural ceremony.
“All necessary arrangements have been made for the smooth conduct of the Mela, which is visited by one lakh people per day from different parts of the country,” Kumar told reporters.
He said since farmers mostly visit the Mela, the government has put up special awareness stalls to inform them about the new schemes and technologies introduced for their benefit.
Kumar said the key feature of the Mela is to promote the sports and cultural richness of the region to make this event accessible among the citizens.
Over 10 lakh devotees from across the Jammu region and neighbouring states including Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana are expected to take part in the fair to commemorate the sacrifice of the Baba, a farmer who gave up his life in protest against the oppressive demands of the ‘zamindar’ (landlords) about 500 years ago. His daughter, as per the legend, also took her life by jumping on her father’s funeral pyre.
The devotees also take a customary dip in the Baba-da-Talab, a natural pond four km from the temple which is believed to have curative powers, officials said.
With elaborate arrangements put in place, the administration is anticipating a huge rush of devotees as this year .
The Div Com welcomed the devotees who have thronged the shrine of Baba Jitto and his daughter ‘Bua Kodi’. After paying obeisance at the Baba Jitto and Bua Kori Devsthan, the Div Com along with other dignitaries, inaugurated a laser show and exhibitions organised by different departments.
A traditional Dangal competition organised by the Mela Management Committee witnessing the participation of professional wrestlers hailing from Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and several parts of Jammu and Kashmir was one of the major attractions of the day. The Divisional Commissioner lauded the efforts put in by the Jhiri Mela Management Committee and the district administration for making elaborate arrangements for the successful conduct of Jhiri Mela. Speaking on the occasion, the Div Com remembered the Supreme sacrifice of Baba Jitto. He said “The supreme sacrifice made by Baba Jitto is exemplary for each of us to emulate in our fight against injustice.”
Meanwhile, Div Com along with other dignitaries took a round of department stalls and inspected the facilities for devotees and farmers.