Thousand of devotees on Thursday thronged the Chamliyalborder shrine along the International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir for anannual fair but there was no traditional exchange of ‘shakkar and sharbat’ withPakistan for the second successive year.
The famous fair at the shrine of Baba Dalip Singh Manhas, asaint popularly known as Baba Chamliyal, in Samba district was last yearcancelled following the killing of four BSF personnel in firing by Pakistanirangers.
Since there was no formal communication between Pakistanrangers and Indian border guarding force, no delegation came from Pakistan andthere was no exchange of sweets, ‘chadar’ or ‘shakkar’ (sacred clay) and’sharbat’ (water), a BSF official told PTI.
Baba Chamliyal, after whom the village on the zero line inSamba district’s Ramgarh sector is named, lived over 300 years ago and isrevered by the people of all faiths.
The fair has become popular since November, 2003 after aceasefire and parallel peace initiatives by both the countries. While it isheld for three days at the shrine complex on the Indian side, it is also heldfor a week on the opposite side of the border in Saidanwali village of Sialkotedistrict in Pakistan.
Till 1971, Pakistani nationals were allowed to come to theIndian side of the border to pay obeisance at the shrine. However, after the1971 India-Pakistan war, the practice was stopped. Since then, only adelegation of Pakistan rangers comes to offer chadar at the shrine and, inreturn, carries ‘shakkar and sharbat’ from the shrine for the devotees inPakistan.
“Over two lakh devotees from across the country haveattended the Mela so far and we have made all necessary arrangements for theircomfort,” District Development Commissioner, Samba, Sushma Chauhan, said
Many devotees have claimed to have healed of their skinailments after visiting the shrine.
The officer said the mela starts on June 2 and concludes onJune 27 with major activity like setting of stalls and entertainment for kidsorganised in the last three days.
“This shrine is the biggest example of communal harmonyand people of both sides of the IB used to offer their prayers together. We arein favour of good neighbourly relations between the two countries to usherpeace in the region,” Sardar Santok Singh, a local resident, said.