JAMMU : Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Ramesh Kumar, along with Additional Director General of Police Jammu zone, Mukesh Singh on Monday inaugurated the week long annual Jhiri Mela amid huge rush of devotees. The Mela has been held after a gap of two years due to Covid-19 pandemic.
District Development Council Chairman, Bharat Bushan; DDC Member Marh, Balbir Chand; BDC Chairman Marh, Surinder Bhagat; Deputy Commissioner Jammu, Avny Lavasa; DIG, Vivek Gupta; SSP Jammu, Chandan Kohli; local Sarpanches were also present at the inaugural ceremony.
With elaborate arrangements put in place, the administration is anticipating a huge rush of devotees as this year the annual Jhiri Mela is being organized at a full scale after a gap of two years of Covid-19 pandemic.
The Jhiri mela (fair) is celebrated/ organised every year in the memory of the martyrdom of ‘Baba Jittoo’, a farmer saint, who gave up his life about 500 years ago in protest against the oppressive demands of a landlord.
The Div Com welcomed the devotees who have thronged the shrine of Baba Jitto and his daughter ‘Bua Kodi’.
After paying obeisance at the Baba Jitto and Bua Kori Devsthan, the Div Com along with other dignitaries, inaugurated a laser show and exhibitions organised by different departments.
A traditional Dangal competition organised by the Mela Management Committee witnessing the participation of professional wrestlers hailing from Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and several parts of Jammu and Kashmir was one of the major attractions of the day.
The Div Com lauded the efforts put in by the Jhiri Mela Management Committee and the district administration for making elaborate arrangements for the successful conduct of Jhiri Mela.
Speaking on the occasion, the Div Com remembered the Supreme sacrifice of Baba Jitto. He said “The supreme sacrifice made by Baba Jitto is exemplary for each of us to emulate in our fight against injustice.”
Meanwhile, Div Com along with other dignitaries took a round of department stalls and inspected the facilities for devotees and farmers.
The Exhibition Stalls established by Department of Agriculture, Jammu were the main attraction for the visitors in general and the farmers in particular on the inaugural day of Annual Jhiri Mela at village Kalyanpur (Jhiri).
The Agriculture Section was inaugurated and inspected by DDC Chairman, Bharat Bhushan along with Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Ramesh Kumar and Deputy Commissioner Jammu, Avny Lavasa. Chief Agriculture Officer, Vinod Kundal, SDM, Marh (Mela Officer), Sectoral Heads and other officers of the Agriculture Departments were also present on the occasion.
The Agriculture Stalls were established under the overall instructions and guidance of the Director Agriculture, Jammu, K. K. Sharma.
Latest Farming Technology was displayed to highlight the message of producing quality food, promoting agri-preneurship for achieving the goal of increasing the farm income. The exhibits of different wings of the Department like Vegetable Improvement Scheme, Mushroom Development Scheme, Seed Certification Scheme, Soil Testing Laboratory, Seed testing Laboratory, Plant Health Clinic, Floriculture, Soil Survey etc were displayed in the stalls to create awareness among the farmers regarding modern agricultural technology and to educate them on improved inputs usage.
Government Agriculture Workshop also displayed tools and implements manufactured by the workshop. The heavy agriculture machines like Tractors, Straw Maker, Reaper-cum-Binders, Seed-cum-Fertilizer Drills, Power Tillers, and Sprayers etc were also displayed by different private companies. The literature on various crop raising techniques, latest farm mechanization, integrated farming and organic farming was also showcased for the awareness of the farmers.
Some of the progressive farmers also displayed and sold their farm produce like Turmeric, Garlic, and Honey, Lemon grass oil etc. Women Self Help Group also displayed/sold their products.
More than 200 live exhibits of paddy, maize, vegetables, and mushroom and sugarcane crops brought by the farmers from different areas were displayed and assessed by the Judging Committee.