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Importance of Baba Sodal Mela Jalandhar in Punjab
Sodal Every year, the Baba Mela, one of Punjab’s most significant fairs, is held in honour of the great soul Baba Sodal. The Mela, a significant occasion for the city of Jalandhar, takes place annually in the northern Indian state of Punjab during the month of Bhadon (September). Hundreds of pilgrims visit the fair on the fourteenth day of the Shukal Paksh celebrations each year. People come together to honour their god from all over the world.
A myth relating to Baba Sodal Mela Jalandhar
According to legend, Baba Sodal was born in the city of Jalandhar into the Chadha family, who belonged to the Khatri caste. He is linked to numerous legends and mythologies. According to legend, when he was a young boy, he insisted on accompanying his mother to the pond to wash the clothing, despite the fact that she would chastise him for it. This is the story that is told about him. She became quite irate with him, cursing at him and told him to go. Three times over, he begged her to repeat it. The moment she did that, he vanished into the water, and no one ever saw or heard from him again. Mela is a festival that is celebrated on this specific day.
According to a different story, Baba Sodal appeared as a holy snake during a plague that stricken the Punjabi cities and told the people there of his departure from this mortal world. He requested Mathi or Topa from the Anand and Chadha families so that he may accept his re-embodiment. He established a regulation that restricted topa eating to Chadha clan members only. On Amawasya, the night with no moon, the night before the Sodal Mela, the chief of the Chadha Clan goes to the pond fourteen times to gather mud for his sons.
Mela Vedic Rituals
On Amavasya, the day before the Sodal fair, the chief of the Chaddha clan has an obligation to dig mud pits for his sons fourteen times in total. This is accomplished by adhering to Sodal Baba’s instructions. Every Chaddha tribal member gives Baba a kneaded offering of plain flour as a token of respect.
To bring Baba back to life, this is done on Tryodashi, the thirteenth day of the local month. The Chaddha gang survives on fried food prepared in a standard pan on the fourteenth day.
A Jalandhar Sodal Mela
The internationally famous Baba Sodal Mela, a pilgrimage festival that attracts people from all over the world, is held in Jalandhar. The district government goes to considerable lengths to make sure pilgrims may easily access the fair from all across India and abroad. In order to ensure that pilgrims can go about their business without any issues, the transport department operates dedicated buses. There are several locations where pilgrims can get drinking water, and there are also makeshift restrooms erected at different times.
At Baba Sodal’s Samadhi, which is close to the pond where the youthful Baba took Samadhi, fairies congregate. The name “Baba Sodal ka Sarovar” is bestowed upon the pond with great reverence. Devotees bring contributions to the Samadhi after immersing themselves spiritually in the Sarovar.
Among the numerous devotees that come to pay their respects to the Baba idol at Samadhi are members of the Chaddha clan. For the purpose of worship, devotees have access to a coloured portrait of Baba that is decked out in garments and flowers. The entire temple and its surroundings are bathed in a dazzling light, and anyone nearby can hear the sound of distant recitations of holy hymns.
Sodal Mela: An Ancient and Contemporary Festival
An historic event known as the Sodal Mela is observed throughout Punjab. Still, the festival has only really begun to take off in the last forty to fifty years. It was more of a low-key event in the 1970s, when few pilgrims attended or took part. Not only did they lack the big Ferris wheels and swings of today, but the ones that they did have were modest and constructed of wood.
Previously, only nomadic groups would travel there, but now millions of pilgrims from all over the world do so. The event gained popularity and caught the interest of the media as well as the authorities as more pilgrims attended. The Sodal Mela has expanded in size in recent years, drawing attendees from many backgrounds and religions.
Significance of Sodal Mela Jalandhar
For religious reasons, people from Punjab, as well as those from nearby states like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Haryana, hold the Baba Sodal Mela in the greatest regard. Every year, up to a million devotees come to pay their respects and attend the fair at Baba Sodal. This age-old custom honours the demise of a young god and his submission to his mother’s wishes.
On this auspicious occasion, mothers reverently worship Baba Sodal and seek his blessings for their offspring and the family unit. Due to Baba Sodal’s veneration in numerous religions and spiritual traditions, followers from all over the world congregate in one location to pay their homage.
When is the Sodal Mela celebrated annually?
The celebration of the Baba Sodal Mela takes place on the fourteenth day of Shukla Paksha in the month of Bhadon. When the Gregorian calendar is in effect, September is the customary month for the celebration.
How to reach
Jalandhar is reachable from major cities due to its well-developed transportation system, which includes both roads and trains. The distance between the Jalandhar Railway Station and the Sodal Temple is 3.7 km; autorickshaws and taxis are two convenient modes of transportation for this route. Although Jalandhar lacks an airport, Amritsar, which is 75 kilometres away, does. The city of Jalandhar lacks an airport. Within the limits of the city, buses are used. The closest location to the temple is a bus stop, which is six kilometres distant. You may get to the temple via a variety of public transit options, including taxis, hand rickshaws and auto rickshaws. You can use taxis if you’re looking for a more luxurious way to go around. For those who would rather go exploring alone, the city is home to a large number of automobile rental companies.
Conclusion
Some believe Baba Sodal instantaneously died after falling into the river, while others believe he changed into a serpent and merged with the earth. All these theories are supported by the evidence. Pilgrims swarm to swim in the waters because they are revered and holy. In the shrine is a preserved picture of Baba Sodal wearing rosaries and flowers. Here, people go to see a samadhi in order to make prayers and ask God to intervene. They also provide prayers.
FAQs:
Q 1. What is Jalandhar’s Sodal Mela?
A. One of Punjab’s most well-known fairs, the Baba Sodal Mela, is devoted to the noble spirit of Baba Sodal. The Mela is celebrated annually in Jalandhar, one of the most well-known cities in the northern Indian state of Punjab, during the month of Bhadon (September).
Q 2. What is Sodal’s background?
A. History of Sodal Mandir Jalandhar Tradition has it that Baba Sodal was a small infant who, depending on the story, either drowned in a nearby pond or drank too much milk and so gave up his physical form.
Q 3. Sodal is who?
A. Local mythology claims that Baba Sodal was a small child with divine abilities who, due to unexplained circumstances, left behind a sacred shrine before departing this world.
