Roshni mela

A famous “Roshni Mela” is held in Jagraon which lasts for three days. The fair is held at the mazaar of Peer Baba Mohkumdeen (RA)and lasts for three days. Thousands of people from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and other neighbouring states.^[1]

Celebration

The Roshni fair is held from 14 to 16 of Phagan in honour of Hazrat Baba Mohkam Din (RA). He died in 1913 A.D. Next to his mazar is the Maqbara of Syed Hameeray Shah (RA) who was his adopted son: The Great Khalifa and Mutawalli and Sajjada Nashin of Baba Sahib's Mazar. A celebration on the tomb of his wife named Mai Deena (RA) also takes place. The tomb is at a distance of half a mile. Lighted earthen lamps are lit near the tomb of Hazrat Baba Mohkam Din (RA)which can be seen from a great distance. Mohkam Din died in February 1913 CE. He was initiated by his saint Murshid Muhammad Amin Sahib Sirhindi who was a saint and wali of the Naqshbandi Order established in India by Ahmad Sirhindi Mujaddid Alif Thani. Maulvi Mazhar Hassan Wakeel was the sajjada nishin and mutawalli of the Mazar Sharif. In 1947 he migrated to Pakistan. ^[2] The fair’s attractions include a wrestling competition which is held annually during the Mela and is organised by Sai Mian Meer International Foundation. ^[3] Also, traditional Punjabi folk songs are sung at the fair.

History

Another Roshni Mela is also held in the city of Ludhiana in honour of Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani who is popularly known as Gaus Pak in the Indian subcontinent, and was the patron saint of the Qadiri Sufi order which was founded in Baghdad after his death in 1166 AD. Gaus Pak never came to South Asia but became popular in the country through emigrant Qadiri sufis.

"The popular iconography of Gaus Pak narrates the story of a woman Rudi who on one occasion forgot to pay her donations towards Gyarvi Sharif. In the same week, it was her son’s wedding and people invited on the wedding ceremony had to ferry across a river. As soon as the ferry took off it started to sink. After watching this happening, the mother had so much depression that for eleven/twelve years she kept wandering in a jungle. One day she met a faithful who queried her about the problem. After hearing the problem, he said asked Rudi to raise her hands and supplicate to Allah. After supplication to Allah the ferry that had sunk around twelve years ago started rising. Everyone except one emerged safe. The friend of Allah asked the woman, “Did you remember to donate generously towards the Gyarvi Sharif?” The woman replied “no”. He told her that she should keep donating generously to Gyarvi Sharif. Narrating this tale people strongly recommend celebrations at Gyarvi Shareef on the eleventh day of every month. The story continues to be popular in east Punjab."^[4]

References

1. Tribune Jaswant Shetra 27 February 2012
2. Discover Punjab: Attractions of Punjab Parminder Singh Grover Moga and Davinderjit Singh
3. Tribune Jaswant Shetra 27 February 2012
4. Replicating Memory, Creating Images: Pirs and Dargahs in Popular Art and Media of Contemporary East Punjab Landscape of Popular ‘Pirs’ Yogesh Snehi