Jhiri Mela begins after two year COVID gap
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
Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Ramesh Kumar, along with Additional Director General of Police Jammu zone, Mukesh Singh paid obeisance at Baba Jittoo temple in village Jhiri to seek blessings.
Speaking on the occasion, Kumar said that 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.
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.
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.
