Chandigarh, November 10-About five lakh pilgrims from across the country have already thronged the Kapal Mochan Mela in district Yamunanagar on its second day and about four lakh devotees are likely to reach mela by late evening today.
While stating this here today, an official spokesman said that elaborate arrangements had been made by the district and mela administrations to facilitate pilgrims and tourists. Deputy Superintendent of Police Bilaspur, Mr Ashok Kumar Sabharwal had been made incharge of security arrangements. Deputy Commissioner, Yamunanagar, Mr Shekhar Vidyarthi was monitoring every arrangement made in the mela area and he was constantly in touch with each officer and giving them necessary directions.
Giving details of the security arrangements, he said that 38 close circuit TV cameras had been installed in the mela area for the safety of the pilgrims. The mela area had been divided into five sectors and a separate Duty Magistrate had been deputed for each sector. All the duty magistrates were discharging their duties dedicatedly. In addition to it, one Deputy Superintendent of Police had also been deputed in each sector for security of the devotees. Four health centres had also been set up in the mela area to provide medical care to the pilgrims. Community Health Centre, Bilaspur had been made a base hospital.
He said that kerosene oil was being provided at reasonable rates in sufficient quantity to the langars and bhandaras being run by various social and religious organisations. Wood stalls had also been set up to make available wood to the pilgrims at reasonable rates. There were 12 stalls selling Vita milk and milk products to the tourists and devotees. The measurement department was constantly checking the scales and weights of the shopkeepers. Samples of drinking water and eatables were being taken by the Public Health Engineering Department and Health Department.
The spokesman said that all preparations had been made for the main holy dip. He appealed to the devotees neither to indulge in stampede nor spread any kind of rumour. The Information, Public Relations and Cultural Affairs Department had set up a information and broadcasting centre in the building of the Shrine Board adjacent to the southwest coast of the Rin Mochan Sarovar. The centre was broadcasting important information round-the-clock. About 2800 notes of information had already been broadcast and dozens of lost children had been reunited with their parents or guardians.
Kapal Mochan is also known as Gopal Mochan. It is about 17-km northeast of Jagadhari town.It is an ancient place of pilgrimage to both Hindus and Sikhs.Its importance is evident from the fact that its name appears at numerous places in Mahabharata and Puranas. It is the destroyer of all sins.It is believed that devotees get rid of sins by taking a dip in the sacred tank. Kapal Mochan is a natural hollow near the bank of Saraswati river. This place was also visited by Guru Gobind Singh after the battle of Bhangani in 1679 AD on his way to Paonta Sahib. He stayed and worshipped here for 52 days. Dropati and five Pandavas had also visited this holy place.