Ramgarh (Jammu),June 25 – The annual Baba Chamliyal festival was held on Thursday in Samba sector of Jammu division along the Indo-Pak International Border. Lakes of devotes from India & Pak including Indian & Pakistan forces offer peace prayers and paid obeisance at the shrine of Baba Dalip Singh Manhas, popularly known as Baba Chamliyal.
While Indians stay on this side of the International Border and the Pakistanis remain on that side this event is observed jointly by the devotees across the two countries. The main shrine however, lies on the Indian side, another ‘Mazaar’ of the Baba is at Saidawali village in Pakistan. On Indian side this fair continues for three days while on that side it is a seven-day event.
The Indian BSF and the Pakistani Rangers exchanged gifts during a flag meeting organized on zero-line on this occasion. Pak rangers hand over ‘Chaddar’ to be laid on the tomb of Baba Chamliyal on behalf of devotees from Pakistan and in return received prasaad of Shakkar and sharbaat for the devotees who anxiously await trolleys to cross over the zero line.
The Pakistan team was led by brigadier Masood Ahmad. He was accompanied by several senior officers.
The Pak officer after attending a warm reception ceremony handed over a green "Chaddar” to DIG BSF AK Sharma at the zero line.The two sides exchanged gift wraps and shook hands. Officers of the two sides were at ease while conversing with one another.
Brigadier Masood told media men inside a temporary structure on Zero line " people on both sides of the border want to live in peace and love peace.
"He said that " annual fair provides them an opportunity to improve trust and mutual cooperation between the security forces adding they would continue to do so. DIG BSF AK Shamra said we hope that peace will continue.
The BSF men later filled two trollies of clay and water which the men of the Chenab Rangers accepted for distribution among several thousand people who had assmbled across the border
It is said that the local soil and water at the shrine have the medical value to cure the skin disorders and among the devotees these are popularly known as shakkar and sharbat of the Baba".
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