9-day Jhiri Mela inaugurated

Jammu (J&K), November 17, 2013 - Minister for Housing, Horticulture and Culture Mr. Raman Bhalla today inaugurated 9-day long Jhiri Mela (Fair) at Kalayanpur near Jammu.

Over 5 lakh devotees from across the country paid obeisance at the Baba Jitto shrine, this year. Legislators, District Development Commissioner, Director Horticulture, SSP, Assistant Commissioner Development, Block Development Officer, Mela Officer besides prominent citizens in large number were present on the occasion.

Congratulating the Management Committee of Jhiri Mela and administration for making excellent arrangements for the Mela, the Minister asked the officers to maintain close coordination between the Management Committee and different agencies associated with the Mela to ensure success of this annual event.

He took round of all the stalls displayed by various departments to facilitate the people and directed the officers of Agriculture, Horticulture, Education, Rural Development, Health, SICOP, Floriculture, Sericulture, Animal and Sheep Husbandry to educate the people about various Government schemes and incentives so that people could avail the benefits.

Remembering the life history of Baba Jitoo, the Minister said Baba Jitoo always worked for the upliftment of poor, weak and downtrodden sections especially farmer community throughout his life. Baba Jitoo was a great spiritual saint and devotee of Mata Vaishno Devi and he used to visit for the prayers to the holy shrine daily from his native village Garkot in Katra and was enlightened with special power.

Samadhi of Baba was installed at Jhiri over 650 years back on Kartik Purnima and since then as a tradition; Mela is held every year here in which lakhs of people drawn from different parts of the country participate. The Government has already announced certain measures for the beautification of all the ancient shrines across the State including Baba Jitto shrine.

A wrestling competition was organized by the Managing Committee on the occasion. The children participated in fun and frolic enjoying swings, slides, marigold and other games. And the artists of cultural wing of State Information Department presented colorful cultural items which were highly applauded by the audience.