Omkar Dattatray
Akhnoor is a picturesque and beautiful town with the river Chenab in the front and the hills of the Shivaliks in the back .The distance between Jammu and Akhnoor is 55 kms .The place has the historical significance and it is mentioned that it was the last Harappan city from where the Harappan’s used to collect timber. The Jia Pota Ghat situated on the banks of sacred river Chenab has much significance and got its name from Jia Pota tree .The then government had established a park in 1999 in which there were Jia Pota trees .The history reveals that a significant event took place at this spot and that is that Raj tilk of Maharaja Gulab Singh of Jammu was solemnized by the then Punjabi ruler on June 17,1822.A commemorative mural had also been installed by the then ruler at Jia Pota Ghat, exhibiting the historical event .Jai Pota Ghat is witness to the march of civilization from the very ancient times .This Ghat is witness to rise and fall of Kushans and Buddhism. There is a Buddhist monastery and Stupa ,one kilometer upstream and it is very important so far as the research is concerned .Just as Akhnoor finds a place of pride in the history for its antiquity and historical significance ,similarly Jia Pota Ghat on the right bank of Chenab is the glory of this ancient town. Any senior citizen of Akhnoor will reveal that Jia Pota Ghat is one of many ghats situated on the right bank of Chenab. Moreover historians consider Akhnoor as the northernmost point of Indus Valley Civilization. .Akhnoor ,popularly known as Virat Nagri in the olden times ,has a place of pride in the history for its splendor ,beauty ,antiquity and historical importance .As the Jia Pota Ghat has derived its name from Jai pota tree and it is believed that in 1957,the original Jia Pota tree was uprooted by the floods of river Chenab and finally got washed away .It is also believed that in medieval times it was a notable trading post where exchange of goods from planes and adjoining hill regions was undertaken .It is also believed that Vedas were composed by Arayans and Jia Pota Ghat and its neighborhood may have seen the coming and spread of Aryans .Recognizing the strategic importance of the place, Raja Mian Tej Singh got constructed the fort made exclusively of bricks of different sizes overlooking the Jia pota Ghat .It has become a pilgrim tourist spot and is frequented by large number of tourists who visit this place and enjoy its beauty .The park at Jia Pota is of immense attraction for tourists and visitors .The fresh water of the Chenab is very icy particularly in winter months .The Jai Pota Ghat and river Chenab has become much significant and is considered no less than Ganga .Ever since the unfortunate migration of Kashmiri Pandits from Kashmir and their temporary settlement in different places of Jammu ,the Jia Pota Ghat of Akhnnor assumed greater importance because the Kashmiri Pandits immerse the ashes of their dead relatives in the clean waters of Chenab at Jia Pota Ghat in Akhnoor and thus this Ghat has become very important and popular especially among the Kashmiri Pandits .The Kashmiri Pandits also perform the 10th day Shradha ritual at the Jai Pota Ghat and thus this place is frequented by the Kashmiri Pandits who observe many death rituals at this Ghat .The Kashmiri Pandits consider the Jai Pota Ghat as the alternative of Ganga and perform the ritual of immersing the ashes of their dead ones at Jai Pota Ghat in river Chenab and many Kashmiri Pandits also perform the 10TH day ceremony at Akhnoor at the bank of Chenab river and consider this river and Ghat as most sacred for performing various ceremonies relating to the dead ones .Generally the local inhabitants of Jammu do not perform the ritual of immersing of ashes of their dead relatives in Chenab river at Akhnoor .The people of Jammu prefer to immerse the ashes of their dead relatives in Ganga at Hardiwar. Since it is the Kashmiri Pandits who after their unfortunate migration in early 1889-90 were forced by the circumstances to opt for the immersion of the ashes of their dead relatives in river Chenab at Jai Pota Ghat in Akhnoor. This Ghat and place has become a sacred and holy tirtha -the pilgrim spots .Many tourists visit Jia Pota Ghat and the nearby fort and enjoy its beauty and splendor .The UT government is required to develop this place and include it in the tourist map of Jammu and Kashmir so that more and more tourists visit this Ghat and place and carry its pleasant memories back home and suggest others also to visit Akhnoor and have the glimpse of this place and the temple situated at this place .Jia Pota Ghat has become an emerging tourist destination .This Ghat remained a foremost centre of pilgrimage .It has a Devsthan of Baba Kahi where on a platform holy Sonuglas that is symbolic chains of the Devta are kept .According to a legend ,Kahi Devta ,one of the most renowned son of Vasuki Nag brought the waters of river chandrabhaga to the barren land of Akhnoor and it became cultivable .It has become a pilgrim tourist destination. Devotees bath in the holy waters in the month of Magh at Jai pota Ghat in Chenab river and wash their sins .In short the Jai Pota Ghat has become an important pilgrimage centre and is frequented by a large number of people throughout the year and especially in the Hindu calendar month of Holy Magh in winter.
(The author is a columnist, social and KP activist)