REASI, FEBRUARY 20: Divisional Commissioner and Chairman Shri Shiv Khori Shrine Board (SSKSB), Sanjeev Verma today inaugurated three-day Mahashivrati Mela, here at Ransoo, tehsil Pouni.
The three-day Mela would end on February 22, 2020.
The inauguration of the Mahashivratri Mela was marked by Shobha yatra comprising tableaus based on religious themes, which culminated at Darshani Deodhi of Shri Shiv Khori Shrine.
Deputy Commissioner Indu Kanwal Chib was the guest of honour, while ADG PIB, Jai Deep Bhatnagar and Director Tourism Jammu, Raj Kumar Katoch were special guests on the occasion.
In his address, the Chief Guest expressed satisfaction over the success of the mela, since its inception about a decade ago. He also congratulated the Department of Tourism for organising the mela successfully ever since.
Verma called upon the people to set up temporary haats, or rural markets, for display and sale of local products. He also encouraged them to beautify the remote village and to extend their hospitality to the ever-increasing footfall of devotees coming from all over India and abroad. The Div Com called for sustainable development of the region the way Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board has done in Katra.
Vice Chairperson, SSKSB, Indu Kanwal Chib, hailed the locals as well as devotees coming from various parts of the country for their unwavering devotion for the shrine. She also expressed satisfaction over the fact that no plastic disposables are being used in the festival.
Earlier, the inaugural function witnessed series of cultural presentations at the Tourist Reception Centre- the base camp of the shrine.
Regional Outreach Bureau put on a photo exhibition displaying flagship programmes and initiatives of the Union Government at the Mela.
District Health Society, Department of Handlooms, Education Department and other departments had also put up stalls displaying their working and schemes pertaining to public welfare as well as developmental activities.
Others present at the inaugural function included, SSP Reasi, Rashmi Wazir; Tehsildar Pouni, Lekh Raj; Assistant Director Tourism, Ambika Bali; BDO Pouni, Om Prakash and BDC Chairman Pouni, Pawan Kumar Sharma and a large number of locals and devotees.
The mela will finish on February 22 with traditional dangal, (wrestling), at Ransoo
