Excelsior Correspondent
SAMBA, Aug 29: The Batwal community members visited the famous shrine of Baba Goran at village Goran in Samba district to pay obeisance to him.
While paying obeisance at the shrine, R.L.Kaith informed his community members that Baba Goran is a folk deity, worshiped in Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. He is a warrior-hero, venerated as Rudra Ansh Avatar. He is referenced in the folklore of Jammu. Little historical knowledge of him exists other than that he was son of Raja Ladh Dev Aka Raja Ladhha and Queen Kalavati Aka Rani Kalli, he added.
After paying obeisance, the community members while interacting with locals, were told that thousands of devotees from both Hindu and Muslim communities throng the shrine every Sunday and Tuesday.
Locals further stated that the shrine has been neglected till date despite the fact that it is the biggest pilgrimage centre in Samba district. Accommodation availability is utterly minimal and no proper arrangements have been made for water, electricity, toilet, bathrooms and medical facilities on the shrine premises, the dilapidated road is waiting for immediate renovation and upgradation, commuters and inhabitants are facing lot of difficulties because of broken and potholed roads. The members of the community made an appeal to Government to develop Baba Goran Shrine.