Ashok Sharma
Fairs and Melas form an integral part of Indian socio cultural and religious life. In India, we have the tradition of organising the world famous Melas such as Mahakumbh Mela, Pushkar Mela etc. which attract millions of tourists, traders and devotees from across the globe.So far the UT of J&K is concerned, it is also known for organising various fairs and melas such as Jhiri Mela, Bahu Mela, Hemis Gompa Mela, Baisakhi Mela etc. which bear testimony to our glorious and proud cultural heritage bequeathed to us by our wise forefathers.

Aug 30- Sep 1

Fairs and melas, being an important part of our culture, have been organised in various parts of our state, especially in Duggar region since ancient times. These fairs and melas add colour and vibrancy to our life and provide an escape from the drudgery of everyday monotonous life as people get a chance to meet and interact with each other after a long time.
One famous and historic Mela called the Sankri Devta Mela or simply Sankri Mela , which is held at Sankri in village Meer, about 37 Kms from Udhampur, near tehsil Panchari Headquaters,in the months of August-September every year on thursday or sunday that comes after Bhadon or Bhadrapada Amavasya. The Mela actually starts two days earlier before the scheduled day and thus, lasts for three days. According to late Dhani Ram, the former priest of the widely revered Sankri Devta Shrine, the Yatra to this holy shrine has been going on since olden times. Going down the memory lane, he recalled how his uncle Gokul Chand used to perform the duty of priest or ‘pran’ in the shrine when he was a child. Dhani Ram was nominated as the new priest of the shrine in 1930 in a’ Pagri Tying Cermony’ when he was just 10 years old . Since then, he performed the duty of ‘Pran’ with devotion and dedication till the last moment when he left for his heavenly abode about a few years ago. Now his son,Krishan Singh has been assigned the responsibilty of discharging the duties of Pran or priest.The legend has it that once as one of his forefathers was grazing his cattle, he saw a handsome and strongly built young man reclining on the ground with his horse grazing in the lush green pasture nearby. The man asked the stranger to tell him his name and the purpose of his coming over there but the stranger refused to utter even a single word about himself. On great persuasion, the young man moved to a nearby place ‘Parnathi’, sat on a flat rock and said that he was Sankri and he moved from place to place and that he had found a suitable place as his abode. He also promised to be the ‘Kuldevta’ of the man’s clan and fulfil their wishes if he was worshipped in the way he desired. He said that he had various Shastras or Vaans such as Dudaana vaan which he ordained to give to the Pran’s family, Trishul Vaan to the Suri family, Gungraal vaan to the Kamali family and Gurj to be placed at Thunal. He also demanded that sacrifices and gold tikka be offered to him and nominated one of goldsmiths as the jeweller through whom he would accept the gold tikka. He also wished that his’ Jaatar’ should be carried out once every year in the month of Bhadon with dhol and bansuri.He also ordained that he would accept all those offerings which shall be offered to him only through the Pran. Saying these words, the stranger disappeared mysteriously. The Pran further said that after some days a stone idol appeared miraculously first on a rock. This idol then reappeared at the place called ‘Truta Sankri’. After a few days the idol reappeared at the present place. The people took the idol to ‘Truta Sankri’ but it again appeared at the place where the temple now stands. This was how the Deity was installed and worshipped.
Thousands of people from the nook and corner of Udhampur District and outside congregate in large number to take part in the Mela and have blessings of Sankri Devta. Besides having religious significance, the Mela has social importance. People from different villages get a chance to meet their relatives, especially the married daughters and sisters married at distant places and share their joys and sorrows.This year,this historic Mela is being organised from August 30,2024 to September 01, 2024.
On the first day, the Mela is inaugurated by a VIP, after which an Indian Style Wrestling Match (Dangal) is organised, in which famous wrestlers from within and outside the state take part and exhibit their skill and prowess. Thousands of people converge from the neighbouring villages and outside to watch the Dangal.There is an atmosphere of enthusiasm, festivity and exuberance all around.On the second day, the Department of Youth Services and Sports organises sports events in which the students from different schools from Tehsil Panchari take part in sports and cultural activities.The folk artists of Panchari and other adjoining regions gather in large numbers to present folk songs and folk dances showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Duggar.All this enthralls the audience and adds to the vibrancy and colourfulness of the atmosphere.On the concluding day, the Vaans such as Dudana Vaan, Trishul, Gungraal, Gurj and other vaans are taken to the holy shrine in the form of Charri and ceremonial Pooja/Jaatar is performed, in which various Deities are invoked, their glory sung and their blessings sought.Prasad is also distributed to the devotees on this occasion.The closing ceremony is presided over by a VIP.
Various Departments also set up stalls of their respective departments to enlighten the people about various Government sponsored schemes for the welfare of people and need to eradicate social evils prevalent in the society.The District administration makes elaborate arrangements of transport,drinking water,security, electricity, sanitation, checking of rates of essential commodities,etc under the overall control of Tehsildar Panchari who is nominated as Mela Officer.All the Departments function in seamless coordination to make the Mela, a great success.Temporary sweet shops are established and bangle sellers are the main attractions at the Mela and they have a hey day.There is an atmosphere of gaiety and religious fervour and enthusiasm with people singing local folksongs and chanting bhajans.One feels as if one has come to some other world far away from the din and noise of this world.
According to the local people,this historic Mela attracts more than fifty thousand devotees from various parts of our state.Thus, there is need to provide more facilities to the devotees visiting this shrine and boost religious tourism and flori-tourism in this region endowed with unparalleled natural beauty.The Krimachi-Panchari road has been widened but the trouble spots need repair to ensure smooth flow of traffic especially during rains. The Government has constructed a tourist hut near the shrine of Sankri Devta but there is also need for provision of view points, more accommodation facilities and carrying out plantation along the paths/track etc to the shrine.This shrine attracts devotees round the year in large number.So,there is also the need for sheds to enable the devotees to protect themselves from inclement weather.A children’s park having amusement facilities such as merry-go-rounds, benches etc. also needs to be developed in the vicinity of the shrine.As the climatic conditions of this region are much similar to those of the Kashmir valley, there is ample scope for developing floriculture and horticulture in Panchari and Bomag region. Trekking and ice skating/skiing activities can also be undertaken in this region. All this can also help a lot in boosting adventure and eco tourism and attracting tourists, especially from Jammu and neighbouring states to this beautiful region.The late Pran and other local people have played a great role in bringing about development at this widely revered shrine, which has been possible due to the donations/offerings of the devotees who participate in large number in the Mela and many of the local devotees pay obeisance to the Deity throughout the year.A grand temple has been constructed and it adds to the beauty and grandeur of the place.Sankri, Panchari, Lander, Moungri and other beautiful sites need to be explored and promoted as rural tourist spots to attract a large footfall of tourists,especially in the summer season when the salubrious climate of Panchari provides a much needed relief and pleasant escape from the scorching heat of the plains and cities. Panchari has been declared as ‘Tourist Village’ and homestay facilities are available for tourists to generate income for the local youth. The tourists, besides enjoying themselves in the lap of nature, can watch local water mills (Gharats), handlooms, milking of cows, rearing sheep, goats and cattle and other routine activities of rural people, from close quarters.More tourist huts and inns need to be constructed so that the tourists can have a nice and memorable stay at this place having enchanting beauty.
(The writer is Sr. Lecturer (Retd.) from SED, Govt. of J&K.)

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