In Jammu and Kashmir, the 10-day annual Jhiri Mela, which is celebrated at Jhiri village at the outskirts of Jammu city, will begins today.

This Mela is associated with the supreme sacrifice of 16th century Dogra hero and revolutionary and honest farmer, Baba Jitto who was a Brahmin and great devotee of Mata Vaishno Devi. He fought against injustice and laid down his life after he was cheated by the landlord of the area and sacrificed his life for justice and righteousness. Pilgrims come to Jhiri village to pay tributes to Baba Jitto. This fair promotes unity, honesty, truthfulness, courage and innocence in the society and signifies rich culture of the region. The Mela is anticipated to attract about 20 lakh visitors, making it an opportunity for government departments to actively promote schemes and programmes that benefit rural populations. Various Government departments have set up specialised kiosks to provide information on relevant government schemes, ensuring farmers’ welfare remains central. This event is a platform to promote local craftsmen and highlight traditional arts for visitors from beyond J&K. The event is vital not only for local agriculture but for showcasing Jammu’s cultural heritage. Enhanced efforts have been made by the administration to educate attendees, especially farmers about agricultural advancements, available seeds and fertilisers. All arrangements are in place for the event including infrastructure up-gradation, blacktopping of all main and link roads, rejuvenation and improved accessibility to Bawa Talab, sanitation, public safety and reasonable pricing of farming tools etc at the event. Besides, plans for crowd management, parking, health services and uninterrupted water and electricity supply reaffirming the administration’s commitment towards making this year’s Mela a memorable and impactful event.