Pays obeisance at Baba Jitto shrine, inaugurates Dangal, department stalls; inspects facilities for devotees
JAMMU: Amid a grand ceremony, Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Ramesh Kumar inaugurated the week-long Jhiri Mela 2023 here on Monday, marking the annual commemoration of the martyrdom of ‘Baba Jitto’ the farmer Saint and revolutionary.
Owing to its rising popularity, the event drew a massive crowd of devotees from across the Country. Anticipating the huge rush, the government has made elaborate arrangements to provide the visitors a memorable experience.
The Jhiri Mela 2023 promises a week filled with cultural, religious, and traditional festivities, uniting communities and celebrating the legacy of Baba Jitto.
The congregation is organised every year in the memory of Baba Jitto, a farmer saint who sacrificed his life five centuries ago in protest against a landlord’s oppressive demands. The Div Com extended a warm welcome to the devotees gathered at the shrine of Baba Jitto and his daughter ‘Bua Kodi.’
After paying obeisance at the Baba Jitto and Bua Kori Devsthan, the Div Com, alongwith other dignitaries, inaugurated departmental stalls and exhibitions showcasing different government schemes, particularly those for farmers.
The focal point of the day was the traditional Dangal competition organized by the Mela Management Committee, featuring professional wrestlers from Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and different parts of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Div Com commended the Jhiri Mela Management Committee and the district administration for meticulous arrangements, ensuring the successful conduct of the Jhiri Mela.
Reflecting on the occasion, he highlighted the exemplary sacrifice of Baba Jitto, emphasizing its significance in the fight against injustice.
To add to the festivity, the event is set to witness a series of colourful cultural programmes will during the Mela days.
The inaugural ceremony saw the presence of DDC Member Marh, Balbir Chand; BDC Chairman Marh, Surinder Bhagat; Deputy Commissioner Jammu, Sachin Kumar Vaishya; SSP Jammu, Vinod Kumar; SSP Traffic, Fiesel Qureshi; SDM Marh, Manu Hans; officers of Tourism, and local Sarpanches.