Excelsior Correspondent
SAMBA, July 2: A week long annual fair (Mela) attracting people from all walks of life commenced today at Baba Sidh Goria Shrine, Swankha near Vijaypur in Samba district.
The Shrine of Baba Sidh Goria is prominently known in the State and the devotees from different parts of the State and outside throng every year in the month of June-July and the Mela goes on for seven days.
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Around two lakh devotees took part on the first day of fair and were seen curiously waiting for their turn to pay obeisance. People also took a customary dip in the pond which is believed to have curative powers and then offered prayers at the temple.
“Baba Goria Nath was a follower of renowned legendary saint Guru Gorakh Nath who took salvation while bathing in the pond at the place where Devsthal stands. Since then it is believed that the water of the holy Sarovar (pond) have mystic powers of,” Baba Sidh Goria Mahant Girdhari Lal.
Minister for Industries and Commerce, Chander Parkash Ganga, former Minister and, MLA Surjeet Singh Slathia, Senior Congress leader, Manjeet Singh, DC Sheetal Nanda, SSP Samba, Anil Mangotra and other senior officials also visited the shrine and paid obeisance to Baba Sidh Goria for peace and prosperity of the country.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chander Parkash Ganga said that such events promote brotherhood and communal harmony among the people and also help the Government functionaries to interact with the masses and know about their problems.
He said the shrine connects us with our heritage and we must preserve our, religious, social and cultural identity.
The Minister also inspected stalls and appreciated the efforts of the departments for educating the people about their welfare and development programmes. “Through such exhibitions, people especially youth get adequate information about self employment and other schemes envisaging their socioeconomic empowerment’’, he added.
An Exhibition was also organized by different Government departments like Agriculture, Social Welfare, Industries, Apiculture, Horticul-ture, Handloom, Tourism, Rural Development, Education and other departments to make people aware about the schemes being implemented by them.
The District administration had made elaborate arrangements for the smooth conduct of the Mela like uninterrupted power, safe drinking water, sanitation, medicare and security.
On the auspiocious occasion of Baba Sidh Goria Mela, BJP OBC Morcha organized a langer at Swankha Dev Sansthan in which eatable items had been prepared and put on stalls.
The langer was held under the leadership of Braham Jyot,( situ) general secretary BJP OBC Morcha.
Braham Jyot ( situ) said that the Baba Sidh Goria Shrine has great significance among devotees.
The members of BJP OBC Morcha and others also participated in the langer.
The langer has been organized by the able support and guidance of Health Minister Bali Bhagat.
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