Nearly 30,000 devotees from Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of the country gathered on Thursday at the revered shrine of Baba Chamliyal near the International Border in Samba district to participate in the annual mela, officials said.
Dedicated to Baba Dalip Singh Manhas, popularly known as Baba Chamliyal, the 322-year-old shrine has long been a spiritual destination and a symbol of goodwill, especially between India and Pakistan. However, since June 2018—when four BSF personnel, including an assistant commandant, lost their lives in an unprovoked cross-border firing—no Pakistani delegation has visited the shrine.
Maintaining tradition, Commandant Alkesh Kumar Sinha of the BSF’s 101 Battalion was the first to offer a ceremonial chadar at the saint’s grave during a pre-dawn ritual, marking the beginning of the annual festivities.
“This shrine holds immense religious and cultural significance. I arrived here Wednesday night to take part in the early morning prayers,” Sinha told reporters. He emphasized the joint efforts by the district administration, the shrine committee, and the BSF to ensure the smooth conduct of the event, adding that security had been tightened along the border in view of the mela.
Charan Das, head of the shrine committee, expressed gratitude for the peaceful and successful conclusion of the event. He also thanked the local volunteers who worked tirelessly over the past two weeks to support the needs of thousands of visiting devotees.
The annual mela at Baba Chamliyal continues to be a cherished tradition, drawing devotees who seek spiritual solace and blessings at the historic shrine.
