317-yr-old Chambliyal Mela gets underway

Near the Zero Line (Chambliyal, J and K), June 22 (UNI) The 317-year-old Chambliyal Mela, which brings together people of India and Pakistan together every year and is a symbol of shared cultural legacy, started here today.

Baba Chambliyal shrine, is close to the zero line in the Ranbir Singh Pura sector of Jammu and Kashmir. It adjoins Pakistan's Sialkot district in Punjab.

This year the Mela was being held in the backdrop of the ongoing composite peace process between India and Pakistan, which has caused various confidence building measures on part of the two countries and enhanced people to people contacts.

Talking to mediapersons Commandant, Pakistan Rangers, Sialkote, Colonel Mohammad Najeeb Khan said, ''If the pace of peace process goes undisturbed, I think, next year the 'Chadar' to Baba Chambliyal will be presented by the Pakistanis.'' The Dargah symbolises the centuries-old cultural legacy of India and Pakistan.

Colonel Najeeb said owing to heiightened tensions between the two countries, people of Pakistan could not offer the 'Chadar' to Baba.

Col Najeeb handed over a 'Chaddar' to his Indian counterpart Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Border Security Force (BSF) G S Virk who later offered it to Baba Chambliyal.

''The Jawans deployed across the Zero Line on International Border as well as the people living in border areas are living peacefully due to the peace process and ceasefire from both the sides,'' he added.

Welcoming the opening of Poonch-Rawalakote bus service, Col Najeeb further said the time is not far when borders will become irrelevant.

Thousands of people, braving intense heat, thronged the shrine since early morning. The annual mela was being held in a relatively relaxed atmosphere this year as even Pakistani Rangers also participated and presented a Chadar to be offered to the Dargah.

People cheered when Col Najeeb and his men were offered 'Shakkar' and 'Sharbat' (holy soil and water).

Rangers allowed people to come closer to the zero line as thousands witnessed the ceremony. Eight people, including the 'pradhan' of Saidanwali village Mazar Hussain, crossed the zero line along with Pakistan Rangers.

One Mushtaq, whose family members are 'Murshads' of Baba Chambliyal said, ''Every Pakistani in Sialkot region want to visit to Baba Chambliyal shrine to offer a Chadar.'' Incharge of Mir Shabz police station, Pakistan, Zulfikar Ali told mediapersons about 50 thousand people have gathered at Saidanwali village, in the hope to offer a Chadar to the shrine.

Another Ranger Akhtar said, ''Mela is a proof that people want to live in harmony and peace.'' Mr Virk agreed with the view that ongoing peace process has changed the atmosphere in the border areas.

''The 317-year-old Chambliyal mela brings the people of both countries closer every year and symbolises the centuries old cultural legacy of India and Pakistan,'' he added.

Indian authorities, as goodwill gesture, gifted two trollies of the soil of dargah (Shakkar) and one tank full of 'sharbat' for the people on the other side of the border. The soil is believed to have power to cure skin diseases.

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