Baisakhi, was celebrated in Dehra near Jawalamukhi

Baisakhi, heralding commencement of wheat harvesting, was celebrated with traditional enthusiasm and religious fervour
By Bijender Sharma
JAWALAMUKHI,April 13,2008 ---Baisakhi, heralding commencement of wheat harvesting, was celebrated with traditional enthusiasm and religious fervour throughout the Kangra district with traditional gaiety and religious fervour today. Thousands of people took a holy dip in the Beas river on the occasion of Baisakhi on sunday. People flocked Kaleshwar in Dehra sub divison of Kangra District to take holy dip in the holy panjtirthi Tank and Beas river.They also visited the Kaleshwar temple of lord shiva. This temple is sbout 500 year old in the meeting place of Beas river and Kunah Khad. According to ancient legend this temple was constructed by the Pandvas with the help of Vihva Karma in the night during their secret exile. But the construction of the temple was abdoned by the Pandvas. it was a condition during their exile that they should not be spotted seen during the day. therefore, they decided to construct the holy city by night. When they had barely constructed two steps, an old woman who lived nearby woke up. it was perhaps an overcast moonlight nihgt. The old woman mistaenly thought that dawn had arrived. After finishing her ablutions,she began to grind wheat.On hearing the sound of the grinding stone, the Pandvas, too, thought that the night was over. To avoid being detected, they left the place in a hurry, leaving the city in complete. Later on, the temple was contructed by the king of Katoch dynasty. this pilgrimage place is considered as sacred as Haridwar. The people who are unable to visit Haridwar,immerse the mortal remains of their relatives, in the sacred water of this place. In Jawalamikhi, devotees were seen at famous shrine of Jawalamukhi.The devotees started queing up here since early morning and waited for hours to pay obeisance. Simmilarly,devotees thronged at various temples of the area to performed puja.