Till next year: Lights go out at Mela Chiraghan

The third day of the urs was reserved for women devotees.

LAHORE: The concluding day of Sufi poet Shah Hussain’s urs was reserved for women devotees. Thousands of women made their way through the narrow alleyways to the shrine on Monday. The devotees, many of whom had attended the other two days of the urs as well, offered their respects and distributed sweets and food as nazrana.

Despite the official gender segregation, hundreds of malangs, who had travelled from other areas and were living under canopies in a compound next to the shrine, lit a fire and performed dhamal around it for hours. Many of the malangs camped in the adjacent compound enjoyed draughts of bhang and smoked cannabis. Several elderly women too joined in the dhamal performed to the beat of the dhol.

The urs, also known as Mela Chiraghan, is famous for its massive alao – a large fire. The women devotees tossed oil packets, candles, ghee and various other offerings that would further kindle the fire. Many of them were accompanied by children who lit candles and lamps and placed them along the alao. They also prayed alongside their mothers.

The women devotees were seen buying trinkets and toys for their children at the hundreds of stalls set up for the mela. A lot of women were seen crowded around stalls selling beads and katlamma – a massive fried bread covered in gram flour and herbs.

Rehmat Bibi, who was visiting the shrine, with her grandsons and daughters, said visiting the shrine had left them spiritually refreshed. “We distributed food among the needy and prayed for good news ahead.” She said her grandchildren had really enjoyed the ferris wheel and other rides installed in a big compound near the shrine for the duration of the festival.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 31^st, 2015.