Jalandhar news- Sodal fair begins in Jalandhar

Jalandhar, September 17, 2013: The historic Sodal Fair started from today evening. Thousands of devotees thronged the temple for paying their obeisance at Baba Sodal Temple.

Tight security arrangements have been beefed up keeping in view of lacks of devotees will pay their obeisance at Baba Sodal Mandir.

The fair of Baba Sodal is associated with Sodal, a small boy who came to be respected as a baby-God. The fair is held to commemorate his death anniversary at his smadh. The fair is held once a year in the month of Bhadon which roughly corresponds to mid-September. The celebration take place on the 14th of Shukal Paksh (bright half of the lunar month), the day on which child deity left for his heavenly abode.

Sodal was born in a family of Chadha clan of Khatri caste in Jalandhar City. It is said that one day the mother of Baba Sodal went to nearby pond to wash clothes. Despite her repeatedly asking to him to go back, he followed her. The mother lost temper and shouted at him, "Have you come here to die? Go and drown yourself in the pound." It is said that Sodal asked her three times to repeater words which she did. Sodal then plunged into the water never to appear again. According to another version, he simply fell dead on the spot; according to still another version he transformed himself into a snake and bored himself into the earth.

The devotees worship at the Smadh of Baba Sodal. Inside the Smadh, there is a painted portrait of Baba Sodal kept decorated with garlands and rosaries. There is a pucca tank called ‘Baba Sodal-Da-Sarowar’. The offering at the Smadh are distributed among the pilgrims and sprinkle a few drops on their body. Some have a dip in the tank.

Pilgrims of all religions come to fair from different parts of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.