REASI: Annual Baba Jitto Aghar Mela, which commenced on June 3, concluded today amid Vedic rituals and chanting of mantras by a group of Pujaris of Baba Jitto shrine at the site.

A small village Agar, located about 5 km from Katra, was beautifully decorated for the big event. Thousands of devotees from within and outside J&K including from Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pardesh thronged the place to pay obeisance to Baba Jittu Mal- a farmer, who had preferred to end his life instead of bearing the injustice at the hands of greedy landlords.

ADC Abdual Star was the chief guest on the last day. He lauded the efforts put in by the Aghar Management Committee, locals and district officers for making elaborate arrangements for the successful conduct of Aghar Mela.

The devotees took the holy bath at springs known for having a healing power and paid obeisance at the temple constructed in the memory of the saint farmer. It is believed that by taking a bath in the spring, people can get rid of skin diseases.

A Dangal competition organized by the Mela Management Committee witnessing the participation of professional wrestlers hailing from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and several parts of Jammu and Kashmir, was one of the major attractions on the concluding day.

On the second day of the Mela, a Culture programme was also organised by the Department of Information and Public Relation in which many cultural troupes performed.

Awareness camps and exhibition stalls put up by the Government departments including Department of Agriculture, Horticulture, Sericulture, Floriculture, Handicrafts, Health department, tourism and various other departments showcased their schemes and programmes.

The locals and the Mela committee appreciated the DDC Reasi Babila Rakwal for adding new events to the Mela that helped attract a large number of people.