- No exchange of Chadder, Shakker between India-Pak at IB
Gopal Sharma
SAMBA, June 22: Though there was no exchange of Chadder, `Sharbat-Shakker’ from the Indian and Pakistan sides this year again, yet annual fair at Baba Chamliyal Shrine, located closer to the International Border (IB) in Ramgarh sector of district Samba, witnessed heavy rush of devotees from different parts of J&K and neighbouring States like Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.
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The people came all the way to pay their obeisance at the revered Shrine of Baba Dalip Singh Manhas, popularly known as Baba Chamliyal. Chamliyal word is derived from the local language for ailments of skin (Chamrhi Rog). The villagers say that by applying good earth ( Shakker) by mixing with the water of the holy well/ pool at the shrine, the people suffering from skin problems are cured.
Since 2018, the exchange of Chadder for the Shrine from Pak side and Sharbat and Shakker from Indian side have been stopped. It happened due to no cordial relations with the Pakistan authorities. Like last year, this year also, there was no exchange of Chadder, Sharbat and Shakker, a senior officer said.
He said there was no demand or request from the Pak Rangers side and moreover, Indian authorities also did not show any flexibility or interest in the exchange. However, there was heavy rush of people on the first day of this three-day affair at the shrine.
Deputy Commissioner Samba, Abhishek Sharma, Senior Superintendent of Police, Benam Tosh and several other officers offered Chaddar at the shrine of Baba Dalip Singh Manhas today.
According to officials, nearly one lakh devotees from different parts of Jammu and Kashmir and neighbouring States visited the shrine today. About 50,000 devotees visited the shrine by this afternoon but the rush of devotees increased after that and touched the record breaking figure. The Management Committee of the Mela, District Administration Samba and Border Security Force (BSF) had made elaborate arrangements for the devotees visiting the shrine to pay their obeisance.
As the Shrine is located very close to IB, the BSF and local police had also made elaborate security arrangements in the area to ensure safety and security of devotees.
“Elaborate security and other arrangements have been put in place for the devotees who have been thronging the shrine since early this morning,” Deputy Commissioner Samba said.
A large number of stalls of eatables, toys and other goods were set up by the devotees in the area serving eatables, cold water and juice to the people visiting the shrine to pay their obeisance. The children also enjoyed fun and frolic during the Fair.
Baba Chamliyal is revered by the people of both India and Pakistan alike and lakhs of people thronged the shrine from the Indian side. On Pak side also across the IB, a three day Mela is organized. Before partition, people on both sides used to celebrate fair at the shrine. Not only Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs also have faith in this shrine of Baba Dalip Singh Manhas.
A community Langar was set up by the Shrine Committee and BSF, where the villagers from all walks of life rendered their services.
The holy well/pond containing Shakker/ Sharbat has been developed by the Tourism Department with tiles, railing and artificial lights and thronged open before the Mela.
Additional SP Surinder Choudhary, Sub Divisional Magistrate Vijaypur Dr Rajesh Kumar, Tehsildar Ramgarh Farooq Ahmed and other district officers accompanied Deputy Commissioner Samba and SSP in paying obeisance at the revered shrine.
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