With the Indo-Pak border festival at Baby Chbiliyal shrine in Samba district to commence from June 25, the border forces of the two countries today discussed issues relating to the smooth conduct of the event at a flag meeting.
The flag meeting between officers of BSF and Pakistani Rangers was held at Ramgarh sub-sector at a Border Outpost along International Border (IB) and issues relating to festival were discussed and finalised, official sources said.
As per tradition, there is an offering of holy blanket (chaddar) on the tomb of the Baba Chambiliyal by Pakistan Rangers while the Indian side dispatches Shaker and Sharbat (holy earth of the shrine and holy water) to the devotees on the Pakistani side.
Thronged by devotees on both sides of the border, the festival at the shrine of Baba Chamliyal located on IB will begin on June 25. While celebrations will be organised for three-days on Indian side at Chamliyal, barely a kilometer away from the shrine, Pakistani devotees converge at Saidawali village to take part in the seven-day festival.
Before 1965, people of both the countries were jointly taking part in the Mela at Chamliyal.
{{/usCountry}}Before 1965, people of both the countries were jointly taking part in the Mela at Chamliyal.
{{/usCountry}}Minister for Industry and Commerce Surjit Singh Slathia alongwith senior officials visited the shrine, 45-kms from here, amd finalised the arrangements for the smooth conduct of the festival.