Devotees throng Guga Mari Temple

Mahesh Sharma

Ahmedgarh, September 11

Thousands of devotees paid obeisance to Nag Devta at Guga Mari Temple in Chhapar village near today. The first day of the Chhapar Mela, popularly known as ‘chowkis’, witnessed a large number of women, men as well as children attending the religious fair.

The police faced a difficult situation while controlling the unexpectedly large gathering on the Day 1 of the fair.

Being one of the largest rural fair of North India, Chhapar Mela started attracting a large number of devotees since early morning. Women outnumbered men till noon today after which groups of men started arriving at the venue of the fair. Devotees offered wheat, salt and milk as mark of respect to ‘Nag Devta’.

Vendors, owners of fast food stalls and organisers of joy rides, magic shows and mini circuses did brisk business as children and women had come in large numbers to offer prayers at the temple.

Officials at the control room said over 1,200 policemen had been deputed to ensure proper security for devotees at the fair.

Special teams of the police and Excise Department had been constituted to keep a check on the sale and consumption of liquor. Policemen in plain clothes, including women cops, had been deployed at sensitive points at the site of the fair.

Hidden CCTV cameras and check posts installed by the police at the fair site will help in checking petty crime, including eve teasing and snatchings incidents.