CHAPTER XIX
PLACES OF INTEREST
There are a good number of places of historical and
religious importance in this area which are described below:
Mansa
town is the headquarters of the district/subdivision of same name. Mansa
District came into existence on
The town is said to have been
founded by Bhai Gurdas who hailed from village Dhingar in Mansa District. He is
said to have been married at this place among the Dhaliwal Jats. Once he came
to his in-laws to take his wife along with him but they refused to send her. At
this, Bhai Gurdas sat in meditation before the house of his in-laws. After some
time, the parents of the girl agreed to send their daughter with Bhai Gurdas, but
he refused to take her along with him, stating that he had now renounced the
worldly way of life. In his memory, a samadh was constructed where a fair is
held every year in March-April. People in large numbers attend the fair and
offer ladoos and gur at the samadh.
It has a Class I Municipal Council,
which has been functioning in the town since 1951. The population of the town,
as per 1991 Census was 55,089 persons.
Budhlada was earlier a British
territory and formed part of the Hisar District (now in Haryana). It derived
its name from the names of two real brothers Budha and Ladha who were Khatri by
caste.
Budhlada is the headquarters of
tahsil /subdivision of same name. It lies on New Delhi-Bathinda-Firozpur
railway line. The border of
Sardulgarh is situated at a distance of 40 km
from its district headquarters, Mansa. Headquarters of the subdivision /tahsil
of the same name, Sardulgarh town lies on the Mansa-Sirsa highway. It is
connected by roads with
The ancient name of Sardulgarh town
was Rori Dhudal and was a part of erstwhile princely State of Patiala before
Sardulgarh
has a nagar panchayat. The population of the town as per 1991 Census was 10,262
persons against 6,569 in 1981. There is a fort of Maharaja of Patiala in the
town in which presently the Police Station, Sardulgarh, is housed.
Bareta Mandi is situated at a
distance of 51 km from Mansa and is a railway station on the New Delhi-
Bathinda railway line. Bareta Mandi is a
sub-tahsil of Budhlada Tahsil. It is connected by road with Bathinda (106 km),
On the outskirts of the town, there
is a small place on the bank of a pond where a fair known as "Mela Beebrian" is held every year
on the first Sunday of bright-half of Bhadon (August-September) in the
memory of two Muslim sisters who are said to have died in the prime of their
youth. It is believed that their prophesies proved true. The fair is mostly
attended by women who scoop earth out of the pond with the hope that their
wishes to be fulfilled. Offering of only wheat is made before the deities.
It has a Class III Municipal Council
functioning since 1956. There is a splendid temple, named as "Krishna
Mandir" which was built around 1936.
The
town is predominantly inhabited by Chauhans who trace their origin from Gugga,
‘Lord of Snakes’. It is said that nobody has ever died here on account of snakebite
because of the blessings of Gugga.
Bhikhi
Bhikhi is situated at a distance of
19 kms from Mansa and it is located on Sunam-Bathinda road. Its population as
per 1991 Census was 11,547 persons as against 8,993 in 1981. It has a nagar panchayat
since 1993. Bhikhi is blessed by the
Divine touch of Shri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji. Its foundation was laid by a Jat of
Chahal sub-caste named Bhikha. When Guru ji came to Bhikhi, Bhikha served him whole-heartedly.
Bhikha himself was a follower of ‘Sakhi Sarvar’ but with the blessings of Guru
he became the Sikh follower. Bhikha’s son was renowned as Gainda Chahal. The
The village is known for fair of ‘Jogi Pir’ who is said to be the guru (preceptor) of Chahal Jats. It is said that during the times of Muslim rule, Jogi Pir fought with the force of Muslim rulers. During the battle, his head was chopped off, but his headless body kept on fighting until it fell down dead in this village. The people were deeply touched by the sacrifice of Jogi Pir and constructed a samadh here where a fair is held. Another story also says that once a few persons were going to some place for business purpose, and night befell them. They stayed under a grove of trees in the premises of the samadh. They felt pangs of thirst at night, but there was no source of water where from they could quench their thirst. A heavenly voice which was believed to be that of Jogi Pir was heard: " Why do you die of thirst? Pick out a brick from the pond and take water.” They did likewise, found water from underneath the brick they picked up and thus they quenched their thirst.
A fair is held here twice annually for three days on Bhadon 28 (August-September) and Chet 16 (March-April) at the samadh of Jogi Pir. It is attended both Hindus and Sikhs, Chahal Jats in particular in large number. The people pay their obeisance at the samadh, especially after the birth of a son or the solemnization of marriage. The people for invoking the blessings of Jogi Pir also scoop earth on one of the tank.
Dalianwali is situated at a distance
of about 16 km from Mansa and it is connected by an approach road. Its
population, as per 1991 Census was 1,525 persons as against 1,333 in 1981.
There is gurdwara built in the memory of
Guru Gobind Singh, who is said to have visited this place. A fair known as “Mela
Mithayian Sar"is held here on the Amavas day every month. In
addition to these,two big fairs are held on Maghi and Baisakhi
every year.
The story goes that Guru Gobind Singh while going from Talwandi Sabo to Kot Dharmu, stayed in Dalianwali village at the place where now the gurdwara stands. The devotees who accompanied the Guru told him that they are very hungry. Nothing was available near about except two trees-one of beri and the other of kikkar. The Guru replied that they should shake the trees. The devotees did likewise and were surprised to find sweetmeats falling from the trees. The devotees relished the sweetmeats with added devotion to their Guru. Hence the name Mithan Sar (tank of sweetmeats) has been given to the fair.
Joga is situated at a distance of 19 km from Mansa and lies on the Mansa-Barnala road. Its population, as per 1991 Census, was 8,052 persons, as against 7,029 in 1981.
A fair known as 'Palara Fair' is held here on Chet Sudi 14 (March-April), which lasts for three days. It is associated with the Pandavas, who are said to have stayed here. A large number of persons, both Hindus and Sikhs, attend the fair and take bath in the holy tank.
Khiala Kalan is situated at a distance of
about 8 kms from Mansa and is located on Mansa-Bhikhi-Sunam road. Its
population, as per 1991 Census, was 5,124 as against 4,506 in 1981.
There is an old gurdwara built in the
memory of Guru Teg Bahadur who is said to have visited this place. Nearby,
there is an old beri tree with which Guru Teg Bahadur is said to have
tied his horse. A gurdwara has also been raised on this spot. Another Gurudwara
known as Tir Sahib has also been built in the memory of ninth Guru. Besides,
there is a temple of goddess (devi) built by Brahmins of the village.
Guru Teg Bahadur is said to have offered milk in a chhanna ( a big pot
made of bronze) by a Brahmin family. This chhanna is still kept by
Pandit Hari Ram Rikhi, descendant of the family.
Phaphre Bhaike is situated at a distance of about 10 kms from Mansa. Its population, as per 1991 Census, was 3,944 persons, as against 3,339 in 1981.
Phaphre Bhaike is known for Bhai Behlo,
who hailed from this village. Bhai Behlo spent his life in the service of Guru
Arjan Dev, the fifth Sikh Guru, at
Besides, some other places of
religious and historical importance are
given
below:
Mandir Mata Shitla, Kulana.- Kulana is situated at the distance of
5 km from Budhlada on the Budhlada-Bareta link road. It is known as Shitla Mata
Mandir. Here devotees seek blessings of Mata by offering sweet rice, rotis,
ladoos, pudas, etc. The people throngs the place from far and wide.
Samadh of Baba Dhiana, Jhunir.- Jhunir is a very ancient village. It was
founded by Dhaliwal Jats. Their ancestor was Baba Dhian Dass whose samadh is
still in the village. As told by the elders of the village, while playing hide
and seek in childhood, Baba Dhian Dass hide himself in a pit. His friends were
unable to trace him. They told this story to the elders of the village. Elders
of the village came to that pit and asked Baba Ji to come out. But a heavenly
voice told them to build a samadh there.
Jai Durga Maisar Mandir, Ubbah.-This
mandir is situated at the distance of about 12 km from Mansa. It is said
about this place that when Mata Jawala Ji was returning after blessing her
follower at Maisar Khana, she halted for some time at this place to take rest.
Later, Mata Bimla Devi of village Ubbah got constructed a temple at this place.
Thousands of people,from far off places gathered at this temple to seek the
blessings of the Mata. Two fairs are also held in the month of Chet
and Katak.
Gurdwara Sahib Naunvi Patshahi,
Bareh.- Bareh is a large village of tahsil Budhlada. Guru Teg Bahadur Ji
had stayed here for over four months. People at that time came in large numbers
to seek the blessings of the Guru. Here in commemoration of the arrival of
Guru, a magnificient Gurdwara has been
built. In the compound of Gurdwara,there is also a sarovar.
Gurdwara Sulisar Sahib, Kot Dharmun.-
Guru Teg Bahadur Ji set out from Talwandi Sabo and reached Kot Dharmun via
Behniwal. According to a saying one thief, who was following Guru Ji, stole his
horse. On being caught he accepted death penalty on himself. Because he
suicided by hanging himself on a tree, 'Jand' so this beautiful
gurudwara came to known as Sulisar. People from the whole area come to the fair
on Dasmi.
Gurdwara Jhanda Sahib, Jhanda Kalan.- Gurdwara Jhanda Sahib is built here at
Jhanda Kalan. This Gurudwara is associated with the visit of Guru Gobind Singh
to this place. A religious Diwan is held here annually for three days
i.e. on Katak 20-22 (October-November). Monthly fair is also held on Amavas
day and a large number of people visit the gurdwara. The samadhof Baba Walait Shah
is also existed there.