Minister for Housing, Horticulture and Culture Raman Bhalla today said that Government is making all out efforts to provide better facilities to devotees at Baba Jitoo devsathan at Kalayanpur, adding that efforts are also being made to bring it on the tourist map.This was stated by the Minister, while addressing a large gathering at Baba Jitoo devsathan after inaugurating the 9-day long Jhiri Mela at Kalayanpur, here.About 5 lakh devotees from across the country have paid obeisance at the Baba Jitto shrine, this year. Legislators, Mr. Sukhnandan Choudhary and Mrs. Indu Pawar, District Development Commissioner, Mr. Ajeet Kumar Sahu, Director Horticulture Mr. Anil Kumar Sharma, SSP Mr. Atul Goel, Assistant Commissioner Development Mr. K K Sidha, Assistant Commissioner General Mtr. Shahnaz Choudhary, Block Development Officer, Mr. Waseen Raja Khan, Mela Officer Mr. Tasir Latifi, besides prominent citizens in large number were present on the occasion.
Congratulating the Management Committee of Jhiri Mela and administration for making excellent arrangements for the Mela, Bhalla asked the officers to maintain close coordination between the Management Committee and different agencies associated with the Mela to ensure success of this annual event. He laid thrust on ensuring availability of un-interrupted power, water supply and adequate stock of medicines and other essentials at the Mela site. He also directed the concerned to ensure proper sanitation in the Mela site.Bhalla took round of all the stalls displayed by various departments to facilitate the people and directed the officers of Agriculture, Horticulture, Education, Rural Development, Health, SICOP, Floriculture, Sericulture, Animal and Sheep Husbandry to educate the people about various Government schemes and incentives so that people could avail the benefits.
Bhalla said Government has already announced certain measures for the beautification of all the ancient shrines across the State including Baba Jitto and Baba Sidh Goria shrines.Remembering the life history of Baba Jitoo, the Minister said Baba Jitoo always worked for the upliftment of poor, weak and downtrodden sections especially farmer community throughout his life.Mr.Bhalla said the Baba Jitoo was a great spiritual saint and devotee of Mata Vaishno Devi and he used to visit for the prayers to the holy shrine daily from his native village Garkot in Katra and was enlightened with special power.The Minister said the Samadhi of Baba Ji was installed at Jhiri over 650 years back on Kartik Purnima and since then as a tradition; mela is held every year here in which lakhs of people drawn from different parts of the country participate.The Minister also witnessed the wrestling competition which was organized by the Managing Committee on the occasion.The children participated in fun and frolic enjoying swings, slides, marigold and other games.On the occasion, the artists of cultural wing of State Information Department presented colorful cultural items which were highly applauded by the audience. Earlier, the Minister paid obeisance to Baba Jitto and Bua Kauri devsathan at the shrine.