Balachaur, November 10 (Jatinderpal Singh Kaler):- The annual famous Chhij Fair of Shri Baba Balraj Ji, a symbol of the region’s rich religious, historical and cultural heritage, was celebrated this year as usual on the day after Diwali in Balachaur city with great enthusiasm, religious devotion and fanfare. According to the elders of the area, the name of Balachaur city is also associated with the sacred name of Shri Baba Balraj Ji. This fair has been organised continuously for many years to keep his everlasting memory alive.
On this sacred occasion, besides local residents, a large number of devotees from across the country and abroad visited various religious places. Devotees paid obeisance at the shrines and temples with deep faith and offered prayers for peace, prosperity and the well-being of all, seeking blessings.
To honour and welcome the fair, shopkeepers across the city had beautifully decorated the markets with lights and colourful flags, giving the entire city of Balachaur a festive appearance.
The main attraction of the fair was a grand wrestling competition organised in the sacred memory of Shri Baba Balraj Ji. Renowned wrestlers from the region and far-off places displayed their physical strength, agility and impressive wrestling techniques, captivating the spectators. Thousands of sports enthusiasts present at the arena encouraged the wrestlers with applause and cheers.
The contest for the biggest flag prize was held between Dinesh Gulia and Shanveer Kohli. In a closely contested bout, Dinesh Gulia secured a splendid victory and won a Mahindra tractor. The second flag-prize bout was held between Shera Gujjar and Shani Mohali, in which Shera Gujjar emerged victorious and received a jeep as the prize. The third flag-prize bout, carrying a cash award of Rs. 1 lakh, was contested between Chhota Satnam and Narinder Khanna. Chhota Satnam delivered an excellent performance and won the bout.
In view of the large gathering of devotees and sports enthusiasts during the fair, the local administration and police had made adequate arrangements. To ensure smooth traffic movement in the city, no-entry restrictions for vehicles were imposed on major routes so that devotees could travel without inconvenience.
The entire event was successfully organised under the supervision of Municipal Council President Ladi Rana and all members of the Shri Baba Balraj Ji Mela Committee. Leaders from various political, social and religious organisations attended the event. Those present included chief guest Santosh Kataria, MLA of the constituency from the Aam Aadmi Party; senior BJP leader Sandeep Bhatia Sonu Adoana; Aam Aadmi Party District President and District Planning Board Chairman Advocate Sanjeev Chaudhary Chechi; Satnam Jalalpur, State Joint Secretary of AAP; Ajay Mangupur, District President of the Congress Party; Vijay Bhatia, BJP leader; and Jaswinder Vicky Kathgarh, Congress leader.
The Chhij Fair of Shri Baba Balraj Ji is not limited to wrestling competitions alone. It is also a significant effort to preserve Punjab’s rich cultural heritage, religious devotion, mutual brotherhood and traditional sports. Every year, the fair further strengthens Balachaur’s unique identity and plays an important role in connecting the coming generations with their history, sports and heritage.
