Devotees throng Maiserkhana fair

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, March 23

A large number of devotees from Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan paid obeisance at the historical temple of Goddess Bhagwati at Maiserkhana in the district on Friday.

The mela is connected with the Goddess Durga Bhagwati. Pilgrims, both Hindu and Sikhs, from faraway places come here twice a year during mela days.

Apart from paying obeisance at the temple, devotees perform the ceremony of digging out soil from the ‘tilla’ (mound), located near the temple, as it is considered to be a sacred ritual and marks the beginning of auspicious time for everyone.

District and Sessions Judge Parmjit Singh, SSP Navin Singla, Additional Sessions Judge Kamaljit Singh Bajwa and CJM Varun Nagpal also paid their obeisance at the temple.

The mela, organised twice a year during the Navrataras, also witnessed the participation of members of the Sikh community in large numbers. Perhaps, it is the only mela, which draws a huge crowd and where the political parties do not hold their conferences.

According to sources, a large numbers of policemen in civic dress were also deployed in and around the mela venue. Special buses were plied round-the-clock for transporting devotees from one place to other. Civic amenities were also provided to the devotees. Traffic police personnel were deployed in adequate strength to ensure smooth flow of traffic.