Indo-Pak bonhomie witnessed at Chamliyal border shrine

Amid chill in the India and Pakistan relations, the border guarding forces of both the countries today visited Chamliyal shrine in Jammu and Kashmir's Samba district and vowed to "maintain peace and tranquillity" in the area.
Apart from them, thousands of people from either side of India-Pakistan border thronged Saidanwali village in Ramgarh sector to visit the shrine of Baba Dalip Singh Manhas, popularly known as Baba Chamliyal.
Pakistan delegation, consisting of 31 officials of Pakistan Rangers, civil administration and prominent civilians led by Sector Commander of Pakistan Rangers Brig Amjad Hussain, arrived at the venue on the Indian side of International Border (IB) at Chamliyal.

The Indian delegation, consisting of officers from BSF and civil administration including Deputy Commissioner Samba Sheetal Nanda and led by DIG BSF (Frontier Headquarters) S P Dhiman, attended the sector-commander level meeting here.
"During the meeting both sides assured each other to maintain peace and tranquillity on the border area. The meeting was concluded in a very cordial and happy atmosphere," Dhiman told reporters here today.
Pakistan Rangers' team exchanged sweets with the BSF personnel at venue while sector commander of Pak Rangers handed over a "Chaddar" to the BSF DIG as their veneration to offer at shrine of Baba as customary.

The BSF handed over a trolley of shakkar (holy soil) and a tanker of sharbat (holy water) from the shrine to the Pakistani team for the devotees in their country.

"On this auspicious occasion a sector commander level meeting was organised between both the border guarding forces at zero line from 1100 to 1205 hours", DIG said.
The annual fair of Baba Chamliyal has been celebrated with full fervour and joviality at BoP Chamliyal in Ramgarh Sector, he said.
Prem Singh, a member of the shrine, said every year devotees from both sides of the border converge near the sanctum sanctorum of the shrine to pay obeisance to Baba Chamliyal and take shakkar and sharbat with them.

"I came to pray at the shrine as my skin disease is being cured with the use of shakker and sharbat (earth and water of holy shrine)," said Sarvan Singh who arreived here from Punjab.
Baba Chamliyal, after whom the village is named, lived about 320 years ago. He is revered by the people of all faiths.
Till 1971, Pakistani nationals were allowed to come to the Indian side of the border to pay obeisance at the shrine. However, after the 1971 India-Pakistan war, the practice was stopped. Since then, only a Pakistan Rangers delegation comes to offer chadar and, in return, carries shakkar and sharbat from the shrine for the devotees in Pakistan.

Baba Chamliyal Mela has become popular since November, 2003 following a ceasefire and parallel peace initiatives by both the countries.
While it is held for three days at the shrine complex on the Indian side, located around 50 kms from Jammu, it is held for a week in Saidanwali village of Sialkote district in Pakistan.
A popular belief is that the soil and water from the shrine cure skin diseases. As a result, it draws devotees from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana as well.
Baba Chamliyal was beheaded by those who did not like his growing influence. They dropped his body at Saidanwali village in Pakistan, around 300 metres from the border, and the head on the other side, now known as Chamliyal.

The legend has it that where his blood fell, the soil turned fertile and a well was dug at the site where his head was dropped. Later, his devotees built a tomb in his memory.
BSF and the civil administration had made elaborate arrangements, including transport and food, for the devotees.
Administration on both the sides of the border get involved in making arrangements for the people participating in the mela.
The BSF authorities in assistance with the district administration and state police have made elaborate arrangements for the smooth conduct of an event.
Devotees coming to this place take bath in the belief that by applying 'soil' (shakkar) and 'water' (sharbat) their skin diseases will be cured.