Annual Jeth Mela in Bahraich cancelled
Syed Salar Masud Ghazi
in Bahraich will not be held this year. The district administration has denied permission for the mela on law and order grounds. The administration has taken into account a report from the Local Intelligence Unit (LIU) advising against the event being organised citing
law and order concerns
.
In a video statement on Saturday, Bahraich city magistrate Shalini Prabhakar said the permission has been denied for the mela which was scheduled to begin on May 18. The Dargah committee has been informed about the decision, she added.
In March, the auction of contracts for the Jeth Mela had been postponed by the Dargah committee citing "unavoidable reasons".
In its report, the LIU said that about 15 lakh devotees attend the month-long fair held in May-June, with footfall reaching up to 5 lakh over the weekends. The report expressed concern that managing such a massive gathering may pose a challenge to the law and order situation given the tension in the country over the
Pahalgam terror attack
.
The report also pointed out concern over the Chittaura lake, where many pilgrims bathe. The lake is adjacent to a memorial and temple of Maharaja Suheldev, a revered Hindu figure. The Hindu groups have long regarded Maharaja Suheldev as a historical icon, while labelling Syed Salar Masud as an invader. They also claim the venue of the fair is actually 'Surya Kund'.
Bahraich police officials said the situation remains delicate due to various recent developments, including statewide protests against the Waqf Amendment Bill and the Pahalgam terror attack.
Syed Salar Masood Ghazi, a semi-legendary figure, is believed to be the nephew of Mahmud of Ghazni and served as his military commander. The main source of information about him is contained in Mirat-i-Masudi, a Persian-language hagiography written by Abdur Rahman Chishti during the reign of Jahangir.
According to Mirat-i-Masudi, Ghazi was killed in a battle with Maharaja Suheldev of Shravasti at Bahraich in 1034 CE. Where he is believed to have been buried is now the Dargah Sharif in Bahraich.
Though Ghazi doesn't find mention in any contemporary 11th century Ghaznavid chronicles, he had become a well-known figure in Delhi Sultanate by the 12th century, when the pilgrimage to his tomb in Bahraich appears to have started.
Masud is believed to have been buried at what is now the Dargah Sharif in Bahraich. Legend holds that the burial site was once the ashram of Balarak Rishi, near a pond known as Surya Kund. For at least a hundred years, the annual Jeth Mela has been held at this site.
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