Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday inaugurated the 10-day annual Jhiri Mela on the outskirts of Jammu city.
Held in honour of Baba Jittoo, a 16th-century farmer-saint who laid down his life protesting against the exploitation of a landlord, the fair draws around 10–12 lakh devotees every year from Jammu, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Haryana.
Addressing the gathering, the Lieutenant Governor urged people to follow Baba Jittoo’s path of selfless service and contribute to building a just, equal, and compassionate society.
“Today, I inaugurated the annual Jhiri Mela at Marh sub-division in Jammu, paid obeisance to Baba Jittoo and Bua Kouri, dedicated a pilgrim community hall and four modular bus stops, and laid the foundation stone for the first indoor sports complex under CSR at Marh,” Sinha said in a post on X.
He called upon people to embrace the ideals of equality and service, saying, “Together, we can build a strong, secure, prosperous, and self-reliant Jammu and Kashmir.”
Hundreds of devotees and farmers from different states have already arrived to participate in the fair, jointly organised by the Directorate of Tourism and the district administration from November 4 to 13.
Officials said the Departments of Agriculture, Horticulture, and Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) are ensuring proper sanitation, health facilities, parking, power, and water supply. The Agriculture Department is also using the occasion to spread awareness about new farming technologies and government schemes.
Security has been strengthened with police and paramilitary deployment across the venue, they added.
According to legend, Baba Jittoo sacrificed his life opposing an unjust landlord’s demands, while his daughter, Bua Kouri, immolated herself on his funeral pyre out of devotion.
Devotees also take a ritual dip in Baba-da-Talab, a pond located about four kilometres from the temple, believed to have healing properties.
