The two-day-long historically famous Achleshwar Dham mela, which is celebrated every year in the memory of Lord Kartikey, eldest son of Lord Shiva, began at Achal village on Saturday. Lakhs of devotees took a holy dip at the temple sarvar on Saturday.
The whole village is well decorated and buntings have been put up along all the roads leading towards the Achleshwar temple.
Lakhs of devotees from all over the world have converged here to pay obeisance to Lord Kartikey and take a holy dip in the temple sarovar.
Legend goes that during the selection of his successor, when Lord Shiva selected his younger son Ganesha as his successor, then his younger son Lord Kartikey got annoyed with his father and reached this place and started living here. Later, all the 33 crore gods visited this place to persuade Him but Kartikey denied to entertain them and remained at his temple. From that time onwards, the place came to be known as Achal (immovable).
It is also believed that every year all 33 crore gods visit this holy place after eight days of Diwali.
It is also believed that the first Guru of Sikhs, Shri Guru Nanak Devji came to this holy place, and argued with the saints, who were promoting social evils such as Sati pratha, child marriage, untouchablility etc, which were practiced during that time and thus a historical gurudwara is also situated along with the temple, showing the communal harmony between the two communities.
It is also believed that every year all 33 crore gods visit this holy place after eight days of Diwali.
It is also believed that the first Guru of Sikhs, Shri Guru Nanak Devji came to this holy place, and argued with the saints, who were promoting social evils such as Sati pratha, child marriage, untouchablility etc, which were practiced during that time and thus a historical gurudwara is also situated along with the temple, showing the communal harmony between the two communities.
There was a huge of people near the temple and they had to jostle their way through the crowd to reach the temple. Some, however, had to pay a price for their enthusiasm as pickpockets did brisk business in spite of the presence of the police.
As far as the security arrangements are concerned, senior superintendent of police (SSP), Manminder Singh said that the whole area has been divided into four parts. Under the supervision of an SP rank officer, a large number of police personnel have been deployed for maintaining law and order in the area. Besides, a large number of constables, one deputy superintendent of police, one station house officer (SHO), 15 sub-inspectors, 45 assistant sub-inspectors and more than seventy head constables have been deputed in the village for the mela.