Baba Chamliyal Mela symbolizes cross-border harmony
The annual Baba Chamliyal Mela was organized with remarkable amicability and hospitality today at Chamliyal in Ramgarh tehsil on the Indo-Pak border
Minister for Industries and Commerce, Chander Parkash Ganga, Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control, Sham Lal Choudhary, Members of Parliament, Jugal Kishore Sharma and Shamsheer Singh Manhas visited the shrine to pay obeisance to pay homage to Baba Dalip Singh Manhas, popularly revered as Baba Chamliyal.
DIG BSF Jammu sector, Purshotam Singh Bhiman, Deputy Commissioner, Sheetal Nanda, SSP, Anil Magotra, CO 62 Battalion, L M Sharma, Additional Deputy Commissioner, TR Sharma, Assistant Commissioner Revenue, Waseem Raja and other officers from different departments and eminent personalities of the district were present on the occasion.
The Industries Minister greeted the people on the auspicious occasion and sought blessings of the spiritual leader for everlasting peace, harmony and brotherhood in the state. “The annual mela brings together not only people from the two communities but also from the two countries as well”, he added.
Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control, said that various steps are being taken by the present government to promote heritage and cultural tourism of the state to give due respect to the local traditions.
Jugal Kishore Sharma extended greetings to the people and assured of concerted efforts towards accelerated pace of development and growth.
Early in the morning, the district administration along with BSF officers held a meeting with Pakistani rangers to celebrate spiritual leader’s teachings of cultural and communal harmony, marking commemoration of the common thread of ethos running through the communities residing on both sides of international border.
On the occasion, benefactions were exchanged as tokens of remembrance between the delegations of India and Pakistan.
On behalf of the Indian delegation, young girls as ambassadors of ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ campaign received the gifts and showcased Indian resolve of gender parity.
Religiously zealous followers in large numbers gathered at the shrine of Baba Chamliyal to seek blessings for healing spiritual and physical ailments. There was spectacular gathering of thousands of pilgrims standing on either sides of the border to witness the exchange of a Chaddar by the rangers of Pakistan to be laid at the Dargah of Baba Chamliyal, with the oblations of sharbat and shakkar from Chamliyal for subsequent distribution on other side of the border.
The district administration made detailed arrangements for the Mela including medical facilities, traffic regulation, drinking water facility, additional buses and security arrangements to facilitate the movement of devotees.
Various departments under the district administration on the occasion showcased several programmes and schemes being undertaken for welfare and development of the citizens.
KV Correspondent
