Baba Jitto Shrine

Baba Jitto Shrine is a revered folk shrine located in Jhiri village, about 20 km northwest of Jammu city in Jammu and Kashmir. Dedicated to Baba Jitto, a 15th-century farmer revered as a folk deity and martyr, the shrine commemorates his sacrifice against feudal exploitation. Set in rural surroundings with a simple temple structure, it is best known for the annual week-long Jhiri Mela held in October-November, which draws thousands of pilgrims and farmers.

Visitors can expect a modest rural shrine complex with a main sanctum dedicated to Baba Jitto and his daughter Bua Kauri, surrounded by open grounds used for the annual Jhiri Mela. The setting is agricultural and tranquil, with small shops selling offerings, souvenirs and local food. Pilgrims offer prayers, tie votive threads and view folk performances during the fair. The site is simple, not ornate, and exploration is focused on the shrine, courtyard and mela grounds.

The shrine commemorates Baba Jitto, a 15th-century Dogra farmer from Aghar Jitto who is said to have sacrificed his life along with his daughter Bua Kauri to protest feudal exploitation by a landlord. His act of self-sacrifice made him a folk hero and martyr in the Jammu region, and the shrine at Jhiri marks the place associated with his martyrdom.

Baba Jitto is venerated as a folk deity and symbol of honesty, hard work and resistance to injustice, especially among farming communities in Jammu. The annual Jhiri Mela, held for seven days in October-November, is one of the largest fairs in Jammu and Kashmir, where farmers pray for good harvests, pay homage, and participate in folk music, dance and rural markets.