Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, June 21: The historic three-day Sudhmahadev Mela in Tehsil Chenani commenced today with great zeal and enthusiasm.
Thousands of devotees from within and outside the UT visited the holy Sudhmahadev Temple to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva on the first day of the mela.
Chairperson DDC Udhampur, Lal Chand formally inaugurated the mela in the presence of Deputy Commissioner Udhampur, Saloni Rai.
SDM Chenani, Gurdev Kumar; Mela Officer, Pankaj Singh and other officers of the civil and police administration, alongside the general public were also present on the occasion.
While addressing the gathering, the DDC Chairperson and DC congratulated the people and emphasized that such melas, which depict rich cultural and religious heritage, help strengthen the bond of brotherhood and communal harmony among the people of the area. They reiterated that these melas bring people of different religions, races, and regions closer, fostering harmony among all sections of society.
The DDC Chairperson also appreciated the foolproof arrangements made by the District Administration of Udhampur.
The District Administration had made elaborate arrangements, including uninterrupted power supply, provision of safe drinking water, sanitation, medical facilities, and security measures for the smooth celebration of the mela.
Various Government departments set up stalls to educate the public about the numerous UT and centrally sponsored schemes aimed at the socio-economic upliftment of the people. Chairperson DDC along with the Deputy Commissioner inspected the stalls set up by various departments.
On the occasion, cultural troupes from various educational institutions, including local folk artists, presented folk dances and cultural programs depicting the traditions of the area, which were highly appreciated by the audience.