District Development Commissioner, Udhampur, Dr. Shahid Iqbal choudhary today inaugurated 3-day Devika Baisakhi Mela on the bank of holy Devika rivulet in Udhampur town this morning.Speaking on the occasion, DDC extended his warm and good wishes to the people on this auspicious Baisakhi day and hoped that the festival brings peace, prosperity and harmony in the state. He said that the historic Mela on the Devika Ghat has its own significance in which people from all walks of life visit and take holy bath in the sacred devika rivulet during the mela.Dr. Shahid said that such melas bring people of different religion, race and region closer which would help to maintain the harmony amongst all the sections of the society.Later, DDC has a round of stalls installed by various departments for general awareness of different schemes.District administration has made elaborate arrangements for the smooth conduct of the Mela like uninterrupted power, safe drinking water, sanitation, medicare, Police Control Room, assistance booth and security have been made at the Mela site besides various departments have put up their departmental stalls to educate the masses about the various schemes especially for socio -economic upliftment.
A number of temporary sweet shops, toy shops, handolas and other eatable corners by the locals as well as outside vendors are the main attraction for the general public visiting the Mela site.For the entertainment of the people at the mela site, district administration is organizing mega cultural event in which scintillating performances by the artists of Information Department Udhampur and Bhartiya Lok Sangeet Kala Sansthan, Jammu mesmerize audience with their attractive performances. The cultural shows would be organized during the Mela days.Chairman Devika Baisakhi Mela Management Committee, Mr. Romesh Singh, PO , DRDA, Dr. Jagdish Mehra, Dy. Controller Civil Defense, Mr. Bodh Raj, Mela Officer, Mrs. Sapna Kotwal, Chairman Bhartiya Lok Sangeet Kala Sansthan, Jammu, Mr. M.L Dogra, Managing Director, Bhartiya Lok Sangeet Kala Sansthan, Jammu, Mr. V.K Magotra, Secretary District Red cross society , Dr. V P Sharma, Senior officers of various departments, Members of Mela Committee and a large number of people were present at the mela.