Record number of devotees visit Jhiri fair in Jammu

Jammu, Nov 27 (UNI) A record number of devotees from across the world visited the week-long traditional ''Farmers' Fair'' at Jhiri -- a village where ''blessed peasant Jitto'' scarified his life fighting for the rights of tillers.

Jhiri, about 18 km north-west from here, turn out to be the biggest pilgrim destination during the ''Kartik Poornima'', where devotees seek blessings of baba Jittoo -- a farmer, who had preferred ending his life on the heap of wheat over injustice at the hands of 'Zamidar'.

The devotees also seek blessings of Bua Kodi, the daughter of Jitto, who had jumped on the pyre of the Baba.

On the temple premises, the devotees take dip in a natural pond, which is believed to have the ability to cure the victims of witchcraft.

The 'Kartik Poornima' remains the main day of the fair when lakhs of devotees, including the decendents of people who had eaten the wheat on which Baba Jitto had laid his life, visit the temple.

Several playoffs, exhibitions and food stalls make this traditional fair a pilgrim-cum-excursion point for the people.

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