Mela Charaghan: Festival of Lights draws to a close
Shrine manager says more visitors this year than last, malangs not happy with how langar was managed.
LAHORE:
The 424th Urs of Madhu Lal Hussain concluded on Monday.
Sheikh Muhammad Younis, the manager of Madhu Lal Hussain’s shrine, told The Express Tribune that festivities went peacefully and there had been a slight increase in the number of participants from last year.
The urs, also known as Mela Charaghan (Festival of Lights), began on Saturday. The last day was reserved for families and females until around 6pm, when the shrine was opened for all.
The urs concluded with formal prayers by Ghulam Murtaza, a local khateeb.
Mela Charaghan got its name from a large fire that is sustained throughout the three days by devotees who make wishes and toss oil, candles and small earthen lamps into it.
Waheed Shah travelled from Muridke with his family to visit the shrine on the last day. He said his children enjoyed the rides set up around the shrine and they felt safe and secure. However, he added, there was too much drug-taking at the mela.
“True Sufi followers do not indulge in these kinds of activities,” he said.
Malangs wearing anklets and bells are a common sight at the festival and they continued to dance till the end. Mehmood, a malang, expressed concern over the way langar was distributed at the shrine.
He said that there was only one place to get the food and they were made to form a long line, but people kept cutting in and it was a struggle to finally get served.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 27th, 2012.
The 424th Urs of Madhu Lal Hussain concluded on Monday.
Sheikh Muhammad Younis, the manager of Madhu Lal Hussain’s shrine, told The Express Tribune that festivities went peacefully and there had been a slight increase in the number of participants from last year.
The urs, also known as Mela Charaghan (Festival of Lights), began on Saturday. The last day was reserved for families and females until around 6pm, when the shrine was opened for all.
The urs concluded with formal prayers by Ghulam Murtaza, a local khateeb.
Mela Charaghan got its name from a large fire that is sustained throughout the three days by devotees who make wishes and toss oil, candles and small earthen lamps into it.
Waheed Shah travelled from Muridke with his family to visit the shrine on the last day. He said his children enjoyed the rides set up around the shrine and they felt safe and secure. However, he added, there was too much drug-taking at the mela.
“True Sufi followers do not indulge in these kinds of activities,” he said.
Malangs wearing anklets and bells are a common sight at the festival and they continued to dance till the end. Mehmood, a malang, expressed concern over the way langar was distributed at the shrine.
He said that there was only one place to get the food and they were made to form a long line, but people kept cutting in and it was a struggle to finally get served.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 27th, 2012.