Sodal Mela begins on Sept 15

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, September 5

Preparations are in full swing for the annual Baba Sodal Mela that will begin in the city on September 15. Like the past, this year too, lakhs of devotees are expected to pay obeisance to the local deity. The entire locality around the temple has been decked up with lights. Religious hymns are being played on loudspeakers. Many individuals, social and religious organizations have put up stalls of free community kitchen for devotees coming from far-flung places and standing in long queues to pay obeisance from the morning.

Street vendors are erecting makeshift shops on all roads leading to the temple.

The district administration will set up control rooms for fire, police and medical exigencies during the week-long affair. A fully-equipped team of the Fire Department with a motorbike equipped with powerful gas will also be stationed at the site to deal with any exigency during the fair.

Baba Sodal Mela is organised to commemorate the death anniversary of child deity ‘Sodal’. The fair is hosted on the day the child is said to have received his communion with God. Observed on the 14th of ‘Shukal Paksh’ in the month of ‘Bhadon’, which coincides with September in the English calendar, Baba Sodal Mela is one of the most popular festivals celebrated by residents of Jalandhar.