In Jammu and Kashmir, the three-day historic Sankri Devta Mela will commence on the 15th of September, 2023 at village Meer in Block Panchari of the Udhampur district. Akashvani Correspondent reports that the Sankri Devta Temple is located about 33 km from Udhampur in village Meer, en route to Pancheri block. The temple, which is believed to be more than 500 years old has idols of deities which are known to be of Shiva and Shakti. The famous Sankri Devta Mela is organised in September every year during which a huge number of people participate and take the blessings of Baba Sankri. During the Mela, the atmosphere remained filled with enthusiasm, festivity, and exuberance with people singing local folk songs and chanting bhajans. On the first day of the Mela, a dangal is being organized in which wrestlers from within and outside the UT take part. Besides, the youth services and sports department will organize various rural sports activities throughout the mela. The folk artists of Panchari and other adjoining regions will present folk songs and folk dances showcasing the rich cultural heritage of the Jammu region. On a concluding day, the Vaans such as DudanaVaan, Trishul, Gungraal, Gurj, and other Vaans are taken to the holy shrine, and ceremonial Pooja/Jaatar is performed, in which the various Deities are invoked, their glory is sung and their blessings sought. Prasad is also distributed to the devotees on this occasion.

The Udhampur district administration has made elaborate arrangements for the event. Deputy Commissioner Udhampur has emphasized the importance of seamless collaboration among all district officers to provide all basic facilities to the people and urged the local mela committee members to actively participate in ensuring the event's grand success, recognizing the significance of public involvement in bolstering tourism and the local economy. The district police have been asked to deploy an adequate number of personnel during the event to guarantee security. Additionally, various departmental stalls will be set up to raise awareness about government welfare schemes during the event.