PANKAJ KHAJURIA
JAMMU : On the occasion of ‘Kartik Purnima’ devotees from across North India thronged the largest ‘Mela’ (fair) of North India, ‘Jhiri Mela’ to pay obeisance and seek the blessing of Baba Jitto and his daughter Bua Kaudi on the second day of the event here today. This year the week long ‘Jhiri Mela’ will be observed for 10 days as there is no Covid restric- tions like previous during the previous two years. While talking to Greater Jammu, the Chief Priest of Shri Baba Jitto -Bua Kaudi Temple, Gosain Sham Lal said, “Kartik Purima is observed as the founder day of the Baba Jitto Bau Kaudi Temple and devotes from across the country come to pay the obeisance and seek their blessings. Devotees also take a holy dip in ‘Babe Talab’ which is 2 km far
from the main Temple near the Highway.” In the 15th century AD, around 700 years ago Baba Jitto and Bau Kaudi scari- fied their lives to fight against the injustice with farmers by Raja Ajaib Dev (1426 AD-1474 AD). Since then the people remember them as heroes of the peas- ants and pay obeisance in the Jhiri Fair, Gosain told. Devotees first visit Jhiri village to pay their obei- sance in the twin temples of Baba Jitto and his daughter Bua Kouri and then visit adjoining village Shama Chak where hundreds of small memorials (Samadhis) have been built by the devotees, Gosain added. One of the devotee, Mukesh from Amritsar, Punjab said, “I am feeling very blessed after paying obeisance to Baba Jitto Ji and Bua Kaudi Ji. For the last 20 years have been visiting the Temple on Kartik Purmia expect last two years due to Covid.” Another devotee from Uttar Pardesh said, ” For the last 15 years, I have been visiting the Temple to pay obeisance alongwith my family and with the blessing of Baba Jitto-Bua Kaudi, I am doing good in my family business.” Meanwhile, due to Lunar eclipse today the devotees were not allowed to enter the main sanctorum of Temple till 6:30 PM.