Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 14: The annual Baisakhi Festival, which also mark the birth of ‘Khalsa’ was celebrated with great enthusiasm and religious fervour by organizing many functions and fairs across the region today.
The day also mark the birth of `Khalsa Panth’ and devotees from the Sikh community celebrated the occasion with great religious fervour and enthusiasm at many places. The religious places of the Sikhs, were highly decorated and special prayers were offered by the thousands of devotees visiting these places.
In connection with the Baisakhi Festival, the famous annual Mela at Ranbir Canal, Rajinder Park, Jammu was held today. A large number of temporary shops and stalls had been raised in the form of impressive market. There were special attractions for the children like merry-go-round, shooting contest and many more events. Thousands of people from Jammu city and adjoining areas thronged the Mela. The local administration had made elaborate security arrangements.
On this occasion as per old tradition, many people had dip in the Ranbir Canal, river Tawi, Chenab, Ravi, Basantar and Devak in Udhampur while many paid visit to religious shrines of Purmandal and Utterbehni. Huge rush of devotees was witnessed at Har- ki- Paudi, near Bahu Fort at the left bank of river Tawi early morning. At Akhnoor also a large number of people had holy dip in river Chenab.
Day three of five day Baisakhi Mela being organized by Directorate of Tourism Jammu draws huge crowd at Mubarak Mandi.
The heritage complex Mubarak Mandi wore the festive look as the children waved sitting on the camel hump. The camel ride has become the source of joy and enjoyment of people of all age group and children in particular.
The ethnic food stalls of Dogra cuisine are luring people to visit again and again and revive their old memories attached with this kind of food.
The handicraft stalls put up by different States are also attracting lot of buyers. The craftsmen belonging to Chattisgarh, Punjab, Gujarat, Assam and Madhya Pardesh are depicting their craftsmanship by live demonstration before the visiting people in the Mubarak Mandi Complex.
A scintillating cultural programme was presented by the artists of Assam, Manipur, Himachal Pardesh and Jammu and Kashmir. The Manipuri artists in their traditional colourful attire presented a mesmerizing programme. The artists of Jammu and Kashmir performed a folk dance which was applauded by the crowd.
A three-day historic Mela commenced at the bank of Devak rivulet, at Udhampur today. Deputy Commissioner, Yasha Mudgal inaugurated the fair in presence of several district officers and prominent persons of the town. Speaking on the occasion, the DC greeted people and extended them good wishes on the auspicious occasion of Baisakhi. She also made an appeal to the public and specially to the women to participate in the election process and must caste their vote as responsible citizens. She also mentioned that timing of the polling will be from 7 am to 6 pm on April 17 in Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha constituency.
She also asked the concerned departments to ensure uninterrupted power and water supply to the people besides maintaining law and order. Various departments have raised stalls to create awareness among the masses.
An impressive annual function/ Mela was held at Dera Nangali Sahib in Poonch in connection with birth of Khalsa Panth and Baisakhi. Thousands of devotees from Poonch, Rajouri, Jammu, Reasi, Samba, Kathua, Udhampur, Kashmir and parts of Punjab, Delhi and Rajasthan thronged this great religious shrine of Sikhs near Poonch. The devotees offered special prayers and paid their obeisance. The function was held under the supervision and guidance of Mahant Manjit Singh ji, high priest of the `Dera’. A grand Langar was arranged for the devotees.
Gurdwara was highly decorated by the management committee. Since morning the devotees had started visiting the shrine. Minister for Housing and Sports Raman Bhalla, DC and SP Poonch besides Commander Poonch brigade also visited the Dera and offered prayer. In Poonch Gurdwaras also the day was celebrated with great religious fervour.
Similar functions were held at Nanak Nagar, Talab Tillo, Rehari Chungi, Gurdawara Baba Chand Singh Ji Jain Bazar Jammu, Akhnoor river bank, RS Pura, Udhampur, Batote, Rajbagh and Kathua Gurdawars besides others in Kashmir valley.
Thousands of devotees from Jammu, Punjab, Delhi, Haryana and others parts paid their obeisance at the historic Gurdawara situated at Dera Banda Bahadur at the bank of river Chenab near Reasi today. Three- day Baisakhi Mela began here today with great enthusiasm and religious fervour. Nearly 300-year-old Dera Banda Bahadur is a historic Gurdwara, having `Samadhi’ of Bandha Bahadur. The ashes of Banda Bahadur, five arrows given to him by Guru Gobind Singh ji and other weapons including a large sword and other belongings of Baba, were displayed at the Mela for the devotees. The management committee made arrangements for the stay of devotees and free community langar. Traditional food stalls, local folk, photo-exhibition and wrestling are the special attractions at the mela.
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