The Hindu : National : A mela and a bond at the international border

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, May 26, 2005

National

National

A mela and a bond at the international border

Luv Puri

The Chambliyal Fair is set to bring India and Pakistan closer, yet again

CHAMBLIYAL: The Chambliyal Fair, held annually along the border with Pakistan, is coming up on June 23. The mela constitutes a unique bridge between the two nations, near the zero line. Even in times of animosity between the two nations it has acted as a catalyst in bonding people across the border. The only exception was in 2002, when during the border build-up after the terror attack on Parliament, people from across the border could not participate. And now in an environment of peace, the event is set to become a hit. G.S. Virk, Deputy Inspector-General, Border Security Force, said: "There is a lot of enthusiasm among people living across the border. The mela will be held on June 23... This information would be conveyed to the Pakistan authorities shortly, at the next sector commanders' meeting.''

At Chambliyal Post, guarded by its 39 Battalion, the BSF has made extensive arrangements. For it has been a symbol of brotherhood and communal harmony for over 300 years. The Baba Chambliyal shrine is situated near the zero line on the Indian side of the Ranbir Singh Pura sector.

Managing the shrine

Until 1947, a family that migrated from Chambliyal to Pakistan looked after the shrine. Since then it has been looked after by the BSF, which has constructed a free community kitchen and a guest house for the pilgrims who come here from all parts of the country. Hardly a hundred metres away is the Pakistani village of Sayyedawali, where people every year wait for the mud and water from the shrine. BSF men hand over the mud and water to the Pakistan Rangers to be distributed.

People with all sorts of skin problems come here and rub themselves with the mud from the pit, which they call shakkar, or sugar, and water from the well. Then they stand in the sun for days. Scores of men and women may be seen in this condition on any day throughout the year, looking like ghosts.

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