The historic 3-day annual Moungari Mela also known as Shiv-Parvati Mela at Shiv-Parvati Shrine in the Udhampur district will commence today.
Amid religious enthusiasm and festive spirit, the Udhampur District Administration has geared up for the grand and historic Mela at ‘Sar Dabbar’ area in Moungari.
Moungari Mela is one of the famous Melas of Udhampur District which is organised with great religious fervour and gaiety every year on the eve of first Jyeshth and lasts till the 3rd Jyeshth, which generally falls in May-June, at Sar Dabbar at a distance of 51 Kilometers from Udhampur which attracts thousands of visitors from within and outside the UT.
All essential arrangements related to security, traffic management, drinking water, power supply, healthcare facilities, and emergency response services to facilitate pilgrims and tourists visiting the shrine during the 3-Day historic Annual Mela have been finalised.
The Sar Dabbar is nestled in the picturesque and salubrious environs in the lap of nature at the confluence of two streams in Block and Tehsil Moungri in District Udhampur. The Mela site is ideally located in the midst of tall mountains endowed with matchless and pristine beauty.
A large no of people from Moungri, Panchari, Udhampur and other regions of J&K and outside throng Sar Dabbar during the Mela days to pay their obeisance to Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati and other deities in the natural caves having a naturally formed nine and a half feet Lingam guarded by Sheshnag and stone besides manifestations of Damru, Nandi and countless other deities worth seeing at the site of the Mela, which is also the abode of widely revered Kansar Devta.
The Mela attracts a large number of local artists and cultural troupes from other parts of the UT, who play melodious tunes on their flutes and present folk songs and folk dances such as Kud, Geetru, Bhakhan, etc. and leave the visitors mesmerised and spellbound.
Various Government departments also put up their stalls to make people aware of welfare and people-friendly schemes launched by the Central and the State governments.
Sports such as Kabaddi, tug of war, stone lifting and other fun-filled activities are also organised with the active participation of the Department of Youth Services and Sports in collaboration with other departments. District Administration Udhampur plays an important role in the successful organisation of this Mela.
Besides providing other facilities, the administration arranges additional buses to the Mela site to cater to the demand of heavy rush of people for the Mela. A free langar is also organised for the devotees during the Mela.
This Mela helps to fulfil the social, economic and religious needs of the people of Moungri, Panchari and other regions of our state.
This Mela also serves the twin purpose of preservation and transmission of our rich cultural heritage to posterity on the one hand and provision of a platform for the people and artists to come together, foster close interpersonal bonds and present an excellent example of communal harmony and unity in diversity, which is the hallmark of our composite culture.