Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, June 26: As the annual Chambliyal Mela was held today near the International Border in Ramgarh sector of Samba District, a delegation of Pakistani Rangers and Civil officers arrived at the zero-line for offering traditional `Chaddar’ and receiving Shakkar (holy soil) as well as Sharbat ( holy water) like past practice.
A 30- member Pakistani delegation, led by Wing Commander of Chenab Rangers Lt Col Jowaid, came to the Indian side at the zero- line and handed over the traditional `Chaddar’ to Border Security Force for laying the same at the tomb of Baba Daleep Singh Manhas, popularly known as Baba Chambliyal.
Besides Wing Commander Jowaid, 2-IC, Mohammad Ali, DySPs Aashiq, Aasif, Qamraan and Mumtaz, Deputy Commissioner Sialkot Iftikar Sahu, Additional Deputy Commissioner and Tehsilar among others were part of the delegation from Pakistan side.
The visiting Pakistanis were handed over `Shakkar’ and `Sharbat’ from the shrine by the Indian authorities, led by DIG BSF, J C Singhla.
People on both sides of the border had a glimpse of the ritual handing over of the `Chaddar’ by the Pakistani Rangers to the BSF officers who laid it at the tomb of Baba Chambliyal.
Officers from both the sides also had a meeting at the zero line during which they discussed some issues and exchanged sweets. The meeting started at 10.15 hrs and lasted till 12.15 hrs.
“We exchanged the greetings and prayed for peace and prosperity on the both sides but there was no discussion on recent ceasefire violations on the border since such occasions are not meant for raising such issues,” Mr Singhla told the media persons who were not allowed to interact with the visiting Pak delegation for the third consecutive year this time.
Thousands of devotees from different States of North India since morning thronged the shrine and were seen standing in long queues to pay obeisance on 323rd anniversary of Baba Daleep Singh Manhas on the concluding day of the three-day fair today. The unique feature of this fair and shrine is that Baba Chambliyal is revered by people on both sides of the International Border.
The District administration had also made adequate arrangements like drinking water, electricity, medical teams and transportation for the visitors participating in the fair.
Earlier, in the morning, the annual fair was formally inaugurated by former Minister and MLA Vijaypur Surjit Singh Slathia in the presence of DC Samba R K Varma, JMC Commissioner Kiran Wattal, District SP Anil Magotra, Director Tourism Jammu Soujanya Sharma, and others.
Minister for Housing, Horticulture, Culture, Youth Services and Sports, Raman Bhalla also visited the shrine and interacted with the devotees after paying obeisance.
He said that such type of melas give people an opportunity to interact with the each other and help in promoting mutual understanding and strengthening bonds of brotherhood.
While the fair on Indian side is held for three days at the shrine complex at Chambliyal village, it is held on the Pakistani side for a week at Saida Wala village of Sialkote district. Saida Wala village lies opposite Chambliyal village across the border.
Earlier, Pakistanis were allowed to come to this side of the border to pay obeisance at the shrine and offer ‘Chaddar’, but after the 1971 Indo-Pak war, the practice was stopped.
There is a popular belief on both Indian and Pakistani sides along the border that ‘Shakkar’ and ‘Sharbat’ from the shrine cure skin diseases.
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