Chamliyal, (Ramgarh): Pakistan Rangers and Indian Border Security Force on Thursday exchanged chadar and prasad on the occasion of historic Baba Chamliyal Mela here.
A team of Pakistan Rangers led by Brigadier Waseen Zafar Bhati handed over a traditional chadar at Zero Line to BSF officials to be laid on the shrine of Baba Chamliyal.
In return, the BSF officials handed over shakkar and sharbat (sacred soil and holy water) to Pakistan Rangers. The prasad and holy water was brought in a tractor to Zero Line.
Baba Chamliyal, originally Dalip Singh Minhas, was a great saint of medieval period. Legend goes that by applying the Shakkar of the holy shrine, people suffering from skin diseases are cured.
Earlier people used to watch the mela across the international border in Sialkot Sector from the Pakistan side of the border, but of late dense growth has obscured their view.
Brig Waseem, Sector Commander of Pakistani Rangers said, he was honoured to be here. He thanked his Indian counterparts and said: “Sharing experience brings change, a change for good''.
DIG BSF, B S Kasana hoped bilateral relations would improve through such interactions.
Thousands of people attended the mela where stalls, sale counters and fun games have been arranged. The mela will continue for three days.
Till 1971 war, Pakistanis were allowed to come over and pay obeisance at the shrine and offer chadar but this practice has been stopped since that war.
