New Delhi: Soundly rejecting the efforts of Pakistan to create a false narrative around the 1st Anniversary of Abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu & Kashmir, the local residents on Tuesday celebrated the event by holding the Bangus Awaam Mela in District Handwara with great fanfare.
The Annual Festival saw the participation of hundreds of Gujjars, Bakarwals and other Kashmiri sightseers from Kupwara, Tangdhar and Handwara.
The Mela was conducted over two days commencing on August 3 with the grand finale on Tuesday.
The first day saw the conduct of Village Games which saw competitions like Horse Racing, Sheep Shepherding Challenge, Tugs of War and Wood Chopping Competitions between the Gujjar Bakerwal Community from various Bhaiks who inhabit the beautiful meadows during the summer months, an official said.
On the request of the community members, a free Veterinary and Medical Camp was also organized by the local Rashtriya Rifles unit, 21 RR (GUARDS) under the aegis of 7 Sector, CIF F(K), Chinar Corps, over the two days of the festival.
The Veterinary and Medical Camp was organized with an aim to provide basic health care facilities alongwith free medicines to the locals who are residing in the remote region of Bangus valley and do not have an access to the basic medical facility.
“This camp proved to be a great success as it met the aspirations of locals and provided much needed medical relief to them. The veterinary and medical camps were a combined effort of the Army and Civil Medical Authorities, in which Medical Officers of units of 7 Sector Rashtriya Rifles in conjunction with the Medical Staff of the District Hospital, Handwara, provided medical assistance to the people. A total of 679 patients incl 49 children were given treatment, advice and free medicines by the doctors,” an Indian Army official said.
The veterinary camp provided medical aid to 135 livestock in addition to surgical assistance to wounded
The second day of the event was witnessed by General Officer Commanding, Counter Insurgency Force (Kilo), Major General HS Sahi, who had been invited as the chief guest.
The General Officer addressed the large gathering and distributed a hundred Solar Lamps to the migratory residents since the valley does not have any electricity.
The day also saw the audience enjoying Folk songs by the gujjar community, patriotic songs by the local children, dances and a Karate Display by the Handwara Kudo Association in addition to the finals of the village games.
The event culminated by a rousing participation in the recitation of the National Anthem and a vote of thanks by the Community elders to the Army for its support.
