LAHORE A three-day Mela Chiraghan celebrations started in the city on Saturday.
Among the most celebrated jewels in the crown of the culture of Punjab, the event is a festival of peace, love, openheartedness and hospitality that the land of five rivers is historically connected with.
This is an event of spirituality, festivity, colours, Sufi music and dance. Mela Chiraghan has been associated with the great Sufi saint, poet, revolutionary and an advocate of human freedom and rights Shah Hussain. This Mela is, therefore, celebrated at his shrine, which is in Baghbanpura, near Shalimarbagh. The people from all parts of the country visited the great Sufi saint’s shrine to light lamps on his grave, to get their wishes fulfilled. Drummers performed at the shrine and youths and women danced on it. The festival attracted a large number of artistes who sang Shah Hussain’s ‘Kafees’ creating an air of spirituality. One of the attractions of the festival is its bazaar.
In the past, it was a major point of shopping but currently it is being used for the general goods, toys, edibles, garments and bangles. A number of food stalls are also set up on GT Road and close to Madhu Lal Hussain’s shrine. Swings, a merry-go-round, a swing boat ride and a trampoline are installed around the shrine for children.
A corner of the shrine is occupied by ‘Malangs’ wearing traditional black dhotis and anklets and dancing on drum beating. The Auqaf Department distributed Langar among the devotees.
Mela Chiraghan got its name from the large fire at the shrine where people throw candles, oils and mud lamps after making wishes. It is important to mention here that the festival was used to take place in the Shalimar Gardens until President Ayub Khan ordered against it in 1958. Shah Hussain, also called a poet of love, was born in 1538 AD. He was a radical thinker. His poetry has a spellbinding effect on the listeners who visit the shrine.
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