National

`Neighbours' not welcome to `mela'

By Our Correspondent

Chambiyal(Jammu) June 23. Pakistanis and Indians will not be able to meet this year at the historic Baba Chambiyal shrine situated metres away from the international border. Thousands, from both sides of the border, irrespective of their religious faith, gather every year in the last week of June at the forward post in R.S. Pura sector to pay homage to the Baba in whose memory the shrine was built. The `mela' used to be jointly organised by the Border Security Force personnel and Pakistani Rangers. But this time the people of villages from the Pakistani side will not be able come over and even the `mela' will not be celebrated at the original place due to the border tension. The area witnessed heavy firing from across the border during the recent skirmishes.

The `mela' has been held for the last 300 years. The people believe that the soil of the area cures them of all skin diseases. The people from the Pakistani side used to come singing and beating drums to offer a `chaddar', `prasad' and flowers. The Indians offered them the holy soil, `Shakar'. Legend has it that Dalip Singh, the original name of the Baba, was a pious and religious person who had a number of disciples. One day some criminals beheaded him and dumped his body in Saidanwali, now in Pakistan, and his head in Chambiyal. One of his disciples was suffering from a skin disease, which could not be cured even after taking several medicines. Finally the Baba appeared in his dreams telling him to rub the soil of Chambiyal and water on his skin.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• Farooq statement irresponsible: BJP
• 'Coronation' revisited
• BJP preparing to return to Hindutva agenda?
• Centre must firm up stand on J&K: Omar
• Reconstruction of tomb of Sufi saint disallowed
• Naval LCA to get clearance soon
• Muslim law board sticks to stand on Ayodhya case
• 'Musharraf's remarks irrational anger'
• Check VHP activities, say Left parties
• `Neighbours' not welcome to `mela'
• Arabian Sea experiment to study monsoon
• Paswan calls for ban on VHP
• Sanjay a great visionary: Maneka
• Two Pak. spies held

Copyright © 2002, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu