*Pak Rangers don’t turn up
again to offer ‘Chaddar’ at shrine
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, June 25: Amidst border tension and COVID-19 pandemic, the historic Baba Chamliyal Mela on Indo- Pak border in Ramgarh sector of district Samba, remained suspended today while Pakistani Rangers did not turn up to offer Chaddar at the shrine for the second consecutive year due to tension along the International Border and the LoC for the past some time.
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As all the religious shrines and temples are still closed in the Jammu and Kashmir due to Corona pandemic and the SOPs issued by the Government, the holding of fairs/ large gatherings at religious places is also not permitted. In Chamliyal mela, which is held on both sides of the International Border, lakhs of devotees visit every year.
This shrine of Baba Dalip Singh Manhas, popularly known as Baba Chamliyal is located just closer to Indo-Pak border. People from all faiths including Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs visit this shrine and offer prayers. It is believed that skin related ailments of the people get treated by applying holy water (Sharbat) and holy earth (Shakker) of this shrine compound. A grand fair is held at this shrine on the fourth Thursday of June every year.
Amid restrictions, IG BSF Jammu N S Jamwal, DIG Headquarters SPS Sandhu, Sector Commander DIG Sukhdev Raj along with Battalion Commander and other officers offered Chaddar at the shrine of Baba Chamliyal and also held prayers. The BSF authorities also offered Prasad at the site to the limited number of devotees gathered to offer special prayers at the shrine.
A senior BSF officer told the Excelsior that there is tension along the border for the last many months. The Pak Rangers were not invited for offering Chaddar and collecting Sharbat and Shakker at the shrine. Even last year also, they had not turned up for the same. This practice has been stopped for the last two years now, he added.
Replying to a question, the officer said this year Mela at this shrine could not take place due to restrictions amid COVID-19. He said the Government of India has already imposed restrictions on the conduct of any fair or allow religious gatherings. Therefore, this fair also could not be held. But last year even due to tension on IB, the fair was held amidst all precautions on this side.
He said the Inspector General BSF Jammu Frontier, N S Jamwal along with Sector Commander BSF and DIG headquarters SPS Sandhu offered special prayers and Chaddar at the shrine this morning with very limited number of gathering of officers, keeping social distancing and following all the COVID protocols. The local Battalion had also arranged Parsad for the limited gathering at the shrine, he added.
Deputy Commissioner, Samba, Rohit Khajuria said that conduct of Mela at the shrine of Baba Chamliyal in Ramgarh in district Samba was not permitted today, due to COVID-19 pandemic. He said as per the SOPs issued by Govt of India, no such fair or religious gathering is allowed. Even the temples are not opened and Mata Vaishnodevi pilgrimage is not allowed. He said tension on border is another issue, but even then Mela was held last year despite that. This time COVID is the main reason behind suspension of Mela, Khajuria maintained.
“There is no public function at the shrine of Baba Chamliyal today in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak,” Billu Choudhary, chairman of the management committee of the revered shrine, said.
“This shrine is the biggest example of communal harmony and people of both sides of the IB used to offer their prayers together. We are in favour of good neighbourly relations between the two countries to usher peace in the region,” Chetan, the chief sewadar of the shrine, said.
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