HYDERABAD, Oct 22: The three-day fair of Rama Pir formally came to an end at Tando Allahyar on Monday. The fair was to start on Sept 20 but was postponed for one month beacuse of Ramzan by the organisers of Rama Pir Sheva Mandli.

Thousands of devotees , including women and children, travelled on foot to pay homage to Rama Pir. They had brought flags which were hoisted at the temple.

Although Ramdev alias Rama Pir, a Hindu saint of19th century, was cremated in Rajasthan, but he had come to Tando Allahyar and his devotees had constructed a temple in his memory at the place where he had worshipped as far back as 1800. Since then, a fair is held at the Rama Pir temple by his devotees every year.

Like every year, a special picket was also established in the fair to look after law and order. However, reports said that as usual, the sale of narcotics and gambling was rampant.

The District Nazim announced a financial assistance of Rs1 million for the construction of a community centre at the temple.

The mela is organised by a five-member committee whose members are Kaka Eshwar

Das, Bhoora Lal Khem Chand, Essardas Lalwani, Sobo Mal Bhagri and Kishore Kumar who also look after income, expenditure and the temple.

According to a legend, the original temple of Rama Pir is in Rauja, Rajistan (India). About 150 years ago, a man of Khatri community of Tando Allahyar took a vow that if he was blessed with a son, he will arrange the “Mela” (fair) of Rama Pir in Tando Allahyar.

As the wish of this Khatri community man was fulfilled, he brought an earthen lamp from the original temple of Rama Pir in India to Tando Allahyar and built a temple here.

Carrying “Dajja” (flags) in their hands, they recite “Bhajans” whole night sitting outside the city and early in the morning at 5:00am they hoist “Dajja” at the temple by dancing on the beat of drums and trumpets.