Chaitra Fair Celebrates Spiritual Heritage at Baba Balak Nath Shrine

The month-long Chaitra fair began at Baba Balak Nath shrine in Deotsidh, Himachal Pradesh. Deputy Commissioner Amarjeet Singh hoisted the temple flag, joined by Mahant Rajinder Giri. Tens of millions visit annually, especially during Chaitra month. Security measures include 150 staff, 185 guards, and drones for crowd monitoring.

The Chaitra fair, a significant cultural event, kicked off at the sacred shrine of Baba Balak Nath in Deotsidh, Himachal Pradesh's Hamirpur district, on Friday. In a ceremonial start, Deputy Commissioner Amarjeet Singh, also the temple's commissioner, hoisted the temple's red flag alongside Mahant Rajinder Giri.

Devotees gathered in large numbers to participate in rituals, including the puja and havan, where offerings were made to the statue of Baba Balak Nath, revered as an incarnation of Lord Kartikeya. Visitors, both local and international, traditionally flock to the shrine during this festive period in the Chaitra month.

To manage the influx of visitors, which can reach up to 7.5 to 8 million annually, extensive security measures have been implemented. The temple complex is sectioned into five areas, supported by 150 temporary staff and 185 security personnel, complemented by State Disaster Response Force teams utilizing drones for crowd surveillance.

(With inputs from agencies.)