Jhiri-The country fair

Tripoto
1st Dec 2015
Photo of Jhiri-The country fair 1/37 by Nitish Arora
As the sun settles, the lights and sound dazzle th
Photo of Jhiri-The country fair 2/37 by Nitish Arora
Merry-go rounds, giant wheel other rural games all
Photo of Jhiri-The country fair 3/37 by Nitish Arora
kids just love the place for fun whereas devotin b
Photo of Jhiri-The country fair 4/37 by Nitish Arora
come once ,you will fall in love with this place.
Photo of Jhiri-The country fair 5/37 by Nitish Arora
the setting is surreal
Photo of Jhiri-The country fair 6/37 by Nitish Arora
time stops here
Photo of Jhiri-The country fair 7/37 by Nitish Arora
Photo of Jhiri-The country fair 8/37 by Nitish Arora
wheel of life
Photo of Jhiri-The country fair 9/37 by Nitish Arora
the game and the vendor
Photo of Jhiri-The country fair 10/37 by Nitish Arora
fun goes on and on
Photo of Jhiri-The country fair 11/37 by Nitish Arora
Photo of Jhiri-The country fair 12/37 by Nitish Arora
the main temple
Photo of Jhiri-The country fair 13/37 by Nitish Arora
Photo of Jhiri-The country fair 14/37 by Nitish Arora
bright illuminations makes it stand out
Photo of Jhiri-The country fair 15/37 by Nitish Arora
Photo of Jhiri-The country fair 16/37 by Nitish Arora
its a riot of colours
Photo of Jhiri-The country fair 17/37 by Nitish Arora
its an economic bonanza for small time vendors who
Photo of Jhiri-The country fair 18/37 by Nitish Arora
trade, devotion , family all under one roof
Photo of Jhiri-The country fair 19/37 by Nitish Arora
all from one, all into one
Photo of Jhiri-The country fair 20/37 by Nitish Arora
a vendor
Photo of Jhiri-The country fair 21/37 by Nitish Arora
market is on
Photo of Jhiri-The country fair 22/37 by Nitish Arora
midnight flowers...
Photo of Jhiri-The country fair 23/37 by Nitish Arora
floral bed, the fragrance is missing but the colou
Photo of Jhiri-The country fair 24/37 by Nitish Arora
striking a deal
Photo of Jhiri-The country fair 25/37 by Nitish Arora
will come again next year
Photo of Jhiri-The country fair 26/37 by Nitish Arora
the glittering toys
Photo of Jhiri-The country fair 27/37 by Nitish Arora
no evil, just for fun...
Photo of Jhiri-The country fair 28/37 by Nitish Arora
yehin pe humko jeena yehin pe humko marna
Photo of Jhiri-The country fair 29/37 by Nitish Arora
heath and hearth moves to the place
Photo of Jhiri-The country fair 30/37 by Nitish Arora
these vendors are our life line
Photo of Jhiri-The country fair 31/37 by Nitish Arora
filling colour in life of many
Photo of Jhiri-The country fair 32/37 by Nitish Arora
ready to please the next generation
Photo of Jhiri-The country fair 33/37 by Nitish Arora
awa
Photo of Jhiri-The country fair 34/37 by Nitish Arora
Photo of Jhiri-The country fair 35/37 by Nitish Arora
Photo of Jhiri-The country fair 36/37 by Nitish Arora

Photo of Jhiri-The country fair 37/37 by Nitish AroraThe village Jhiri is located about 20 kms from Jammu, off the Jammu-Akhnoor highway. Every year during the Karthik Purnima (Late autumn full moon) falling during the last week of October and early November an annual mela is held here. Lacs of devotees throng the village to commemorate the martyrdom of Baba Jittoo, a farmer who gave up his life in protest against the oppressive demands of the zamindar about 500 years ago.

Legend has it that the zamindar demanded a major share of the wheat crop from Jit Mal a poor farmer. Since the peasant had toiled hard to cultivate the crop he did not want to yield to this unjust demand. Rather than parting with his crop, Jit Mal preferred to take the extreme step of ending his life over the heap of wheat. He has ever since been venerated as Baba Jittoo and is revered for standing up against the injustice and unfair treatment meted out to the peasantry during the feudal times.

The festivities during the mela last for a week with the main day of the fair being held on Karthik Purnima. People pay obeisance at the Baba Jittoo temple and seek his blessings and the blessings of his daughter Bua Kouri, who as per the legend also took her life by jumping on her father’s funeral pyre. People also take a customary dip in the Baba-da-Talab (Pond), a natural pond four kms from the temple which is believed to have curative powers.

A huge market comes up at the site of the mela and shops and stalls selling selling food items and all sorts of wares are set up. Entertainment and rural sports like dangal (wrestling) also form an important feature of the fair. At a distance 5 km from Jhiri are located ancient temples of Sui & Burj known for their exquisite and elaborate wall paintings and metal idols of Shri Ram & Sita.