Mela of Baba Sodal Ji was celebrated in Jalandhar on Sunday 11th September 2011. Many devotees from all over Punjab visited holy temple to pay their homage to baba sodal. Area around the Baba Sodal Mandir was very much decorated and temporary shops were opened on the both sides of road on the way to the temple. Many devotees also arranged langers (free food) for people visiting the fair. Heavy security arrangements were also made by Jalandhar Police so that mela runs smoothly.
 |
| Holy water is sprinkled on devotees in the pond. |
Devotees started visiting the temple on Saturday evening. All roads from doaba chouk (square) , Sodal railaway crossing and workshop chouk, were filled were men, women and children coming to fair. A heavy rain shower few days earlier had developed a fear in the mind of the people that whether it will be sunny or will it rain on the day mela is going to be celebrated. But thanks to the blessing of baba ji it was clear sky on Sunday afternoon. Thousands of people visited the holy temple.
In the evening some rain showers disturbed mela proceedings for some time, but it also could not stop devotees to pay their homage to baba ji. Later in the night when rain stopped people again visited temple in spite of water logging on the roads. Heavy rush of people continued till late night.
Baba Sodal Mela, Jalandhar is celebrated in the city to commemorate the death of the child deity, Sodal. The fair is hosted for a day in the city of Jalandhar on the day the child is said to have received his communion with God. Observed on the 14th of Shukal Paksh in the month of Bhadon, which coincides with the month of September in the English calendar, Baba Sodal Mela, Jalandhar is one of the most popular Jalandhar festivals celebrated by the people of the city.
 | ||||
| People gathered in holy pond to get blessings of Baba Sodal. |
Legend has it that Sodal, a member of the Chadha clan of Khatri caste, who reside in the city of Jalandhar, sacrificed his life by drowning himself in the pond. Although prohibited by his mother, Sodal followed his mother to the pond. Enraged by his insolence, his mother asked him to drown himself in the pond. After asking his mother three times about her resolution and repeatedly receiving the same answer from her, Sodal jumped into the pond never to appear again.
 | ||
| Different kind of amusement slide and go rounds were also setup in Baba Sodal Mela. |
The people of the city of Jalandhar believe that the child was blessed with divine powers and celebrate his death anniversary every year. The smadh of the child deity is the sanctum . Beside it stands the portrait of the child that is embellished with flower garlands and rosaries. Prayers are offered here by the pilgrims who arrive from all the corners of the city and from the neighboring city of Jalandhar.
This year mela was celebrated with great enthusiasm and festivity. People from all parts of society and from all ages enjoyed this mela very much. This mela has a special attraction for children as many amusement items such as rides and mout ka kuan ( well of death) are setup in mela. Children walk with their parents for hours in mela area and enjoy the proceedings.
 |
| Toy shops setup in mela area attracted children a lot. |
In the end we leave you with holy darshan of Baba Sodal Ji. May Baba sodal Shower his blessing on all of us and we shall visit mela in Baba Ji's temple next year. Jai Baba Sodal Ji Ki.
Jai Baba Sodal Ji Ki.
No comments:
Post a Comment