Sufi fair held in J&K after two years without Pak participation

JAMMU: The centuries-old Baba Chamliyal's fair was held at Dagg village in Ramgarh sector of Samba district on the Indo-Pak international border in absence of participation from Pakistan, which did not send a ‘chadder’ for the tomb, as has been the tradition.
Hundreds of people thronged the fair to pay obeisance at the tomb of Baba Dalip Singh Manhas, popularly known as 'Baba Chamliyal', about 42 kms from Jammu. The annual fair at the Sufi shrine could not be held for two years due to covid restrictions.
However, Pakistani Rangers who earlier used to visit the shrine to offer 'chadder' and take back 'shakker' and 'sharbat' from the shrine did not participate. Pakistan Rangers had stopped visiting the shrine in 2018 after four BSF personnel were killed in alleged ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Chamliyal sector on June 13 that year ahead of the annual fair. Troops from both sides of the borders had exchanged sacred tokens on the occasion but participation of Pakistan was cancelled and later covid restrictions were imposed. The fair is also held across the border in Chamliyal area of Pakistan.
BSF DIG Surjit Singh said that Baba Chamliyal’s shrine is a place of faith and belief which unites people of every community and spreads the message of peace and compassion. “Devout followers of every religion gather at the shrine of Baba Chamliyal to seek divine blessings,” he added.
It is believed that Baba Dalip Singh Manhas used to live in Dagg village around 300 years ago and used to treat 'Chambal' (a skin) disease with his spiritual powers. It is said that he was beheaded at Saidawali village, now in Pakistan, by those who did not like his growing influence but his followers grew over time and even Partition could not stop people from visiting his shrine.