SRINAGAR: The Indus Valley’s 17th century spiritual guru, Baba Chamliyal’s shrine on Indo-Pak border continues to unite even the bitterest of foes. On Thursday not just soldiers from both sides of Indo-Pak border in Sambha’s Ramgarh sector, but a whole host of people from across the border paid respects at the Chamliyal Shrine.
An official spokesman confirmed that thousands of devotees stood on both sides of the border to have a glimpse of the ritual during which Pakistani Rangers hand over the flower-decked blanket, with exotically embroidered Quranic notes, to the BSF officers. The blanket (Chaddar) is laid upon the grave of Baba Chamliyal, as a mark of respect. The local administration and BSF handed over the ‘shakkar ‘and ‘sharbat to the Pak Rangers for the distribution among thousands of devotees who were eagerly waiting for the same on the other side of the border.
According to the statement during the annual Mela at Baba Chamliyal Shrine thousands of devotees from across the state and outside thronged the centuries old shrine. The soil near the shrine is widely believed to have healing properties and people jostle to grab a handful to rub over affected body parts or over the forehead to cure their bodily or spiritual ailments. “This pious soil of the shrine is lovingly called Shaker (surgar),” a local from Ramgarh said.
The highly revered shrine also has followers on other side of the border who come and collect the ‘shakkar’ and ‘sharbat from the premises believed to be panacea for all skin ailments.
“On this occasion senior officers of district administration and Border Forces from either side of the border exchanged sweets and gifts that has become a regular practice going on for years now,” the government spokesman said.
The District Administration, keeping in view ever increasing influx of pilgrims had made elaborate arrangements for their convenience including Traffic Regulation, Medical Facilities, Drinking Water Facility, Security Arrangements and Additional Buses to cater to the rush.
The District Administration has also organized an exhibition highlighting the schemes and programmes being implemented by various departments.
Thousands of people on both sides jointly participated in the separate fairs at the shrine of Dalip Singh Manhas, popularly known as Baba Chamliyal.
Earlier in the morning the the Annual Fair was inaugurated by Former Minister and MLA Vijaypur, Surjit Singh Slathia.
It was informed that Mela Chamliyal is celebrated in the memory of Baba Dalip Singh Manhas every year in June in the village of Chamliyal on the Indo Pak border about 40kms from Jammu. The unique feature of this mela is that Baba Chamliyal is revered by people on both sides of the international border. People of all religions in thousands throng the shrine during the festival.
Agriculture, Horticulture Animal/Sheep husbandry handlooms, handicrafts, employment and social welfare departments had installed stalls on the occasion to make people aware about the schemes being offered by these departments.
Deputy Commissioner Samba R K Varma, Commissioner JMC, Kiran Wattal, SP Anil Mangotra, Director Tourism Jammu, Soujanya Sharma, ADC Inderjeet Singh, ACR M Y Malik besides other senior officers were also present on the occasion.
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