The Chamliyal Mela at the Dargah of Baba Dilip Singh Manhas was celebrated Thursday with religious fervor near the international border in Samba, but without Indians and Pakistani’s exchanging ‘shakar and sharbat’.
The 320-years old traditional Mela was observed without anyparticipation by people from the other side of the border in Pakistan for thesecond consecutive.
Since 1947, the Sufi festival was annually organised at theZero Line jointly by the BSF and Pakistan Rangers because of devotees of BabaChamliyal on both sides of the border.
According to historical accounts, Baba Dalip Singh Manhaswas murdered and his body was cut in two pieces. The head lies in Saidanwalivillage of Sailkot district on the Pakistan side of the border while his bodywas buried in Chamliyal on the Indian side.
On Thursday, thousand of devotees for Jammu and otherneighbouring northern states thronged the border shrine, revered in both Indianand Pakistani.
Last year, the famous fair at the shrine of Baba Dalip SinghManhas, a saint popularly known as Baba Chamliyal, in Samba district wascancelled following killing of four BSF personnel in firing by PakistaniRangers.
The locals of Ramghar village organised annual fair withhelp of civil administration, after the Border Security Force refused, whichearlier conducted the event, refused to conduct it.
“People in large numbers from the state and outsideparticipated in the fair with enthusiasm and sought blessings of Baba DalipSingh Manhas,” said Mohinder Singh, a local resident.
“In past, Pakistani devotes would come in large numbers nearzero line and offer ‘Chadar’ at the Dargah but due to non-involvement ofsecurity forces (BSF), the event didn’t happen.”
Devotees felt the absence of their Pakistani counterpartswho in the earlier years would would join the fair in good numbers by offering’Chadar at Dargah’ and in return get ‘Sharbat’ (sweet water) and ‘Shakkar'(soil) as ‘parsad’.
“The followers of Baba Chamliyal are more in Pakistan thanin India. I don’t remember any year when this fair was called off. Today, whenwe offered ‘Chadar’ at Dargah on behalf on our Pakistani brothers, we actuallymissed them,” said Sohan Lal.
He however backed the government decision and said untilPakistan “mends its ways” the joint festival should not be allowed.
Santosh Kumar, the priest of the shrine said that peopleoffered special prayers at the Dargah so that peace prevails between India andPakistan.
Former minister and National Conference leader, SurjeetSingh Slathia, also paid obeisance at Chamliyal shrine and prayed for peace andtranquility in the state and the country.
“Suffis and saints have all along shown the path ofrighteousness, love and brotherhood, which is core of every religion,” Slathiasaid while interacting with devotees.