Sudhmahadev mela to commence from June 29

Jammu, June 10 (UNI) The historic 'Sudhmahadev Mela' commences from June 29 here in Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir and administrative authorities have finalised arrangement plans for its smooth conduct.

District Development Commissioner, Udhampur, O P Kalandria chaired a meeting of the district officers yesterday and gave directions for the smooth conduct of this three-day annual fair at Sudhmahadev -- a holy shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva, official sources today said.

Situated at a height of approximately 1225 m near the famous hill resort Patnitop, Sudhmahadev gains significance on the full moon night of 'Sawan' (July-August) when pilgrims visit the shrine to worship the 'Trishul' (trident) and a mace, which is said to belong to Lord Shiva. A stream called 'Devak' also originates at the shrine and vanishes amid the rocks after a few kilometers.

Tehsildar Chenani would be the Mela Officer, who would supervise all arrangements besides keeping a watch on maintaining law and order during mela days, sources said.

No passenger vehicle would be allowed to leave Udhampur for Chenani after 1730 hrs and from Chenani onward for Sudhmahadev after 1830 hrs during the festival.

Police have been directed to deploy adequate security personnel to keep check on any untoward incident.

Cultural programmes and sports activities would be the other part of attraction during the festival, which concludes on July 1.

The meeting also decided that the departments of Agriculture, Horticulture, Sericulture, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, Sheep Husbandry, Social Welfare, Handicrafts, Handlooms,DRDA, Health and Tourism would install their stalls at the mela site for three days to popularise state and central government schemes meant for the welfare of common masses, sources added.

UNI