The two- day Mundneshwar Kheraling religious festival held in Kaljikhal block under Pauri district concluded on Friday sans any animal sacrifice like some previous years. The mela has not seen even a single instance of animal sacrifice for the past few years.
Some of the religious festivals being held in Pauri district for ages stood stigmatised with the inhuman practice of animal sacrifice. Buffalos and goats are known to have been sacrificed in a large number during Kandda mela, Mundneshwar mela, Kalinka mela and Bungkhal mela. But for the past few years, the practice of sacrificing animals on the altar of God has been totally stopped during the Kandda, Mundeneshwar and Bungkhal melas thanks to the combined efforts of the district administration, some social organisations and the temple committees. Besides, some villagers have also come out against the brutal practice of slaughtering animals in the name of God.
Hundreds of devotees, including those from other states like West Bengal, throng the Mundneshwar temple to perform religious rituals every year to have their wish fulfilled with the grace of the divine. This year was no exception.
On the first day of the Mundeshwar Kharaling mela, the nishans (flag) of Meerchora and Hauchuyee villages were planted at the Kharaling temple amidst beating of drums, a tradition that has been going on for ages.
The band of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) Srinagar also played a patriotic tune on the occasion. Besides, the para military force set up a health camp during the mela at which over 200 patient were medically examined. It also conducted a photo exhibition and screened films related to some brave hearts of the force.
DIG SSB U P Balodhi said that the religious fair has concluded this year too with the participation of a large number of devotees. “We are happy as we have participated in it too in a humble way,” he said.
The temple committee president Balwant Singh affirmed that it was a matter of satisfaction for them all that the fair has concluded without a single instance of animal sacrifice like some previous years. “We were vigilant all through the mela to ensure that it is not desecrated by any sacrifice of animal on the altar of the divine,” he added.