900-year-old traditiondisrupted: No Bale Miyanfair in Gorakhpur this yr
Gorakhpur: For the first time in what is believed to be a
900-year-old tradition
, the iconic
Bale Miyan fair
in Gorakhpur will not take place this year. The month-long event held in memory of Syed Salar Masud Ghazi—locally called Bale Miyan—was scheduled to begin on May 18.
However, the district administration has not granted the necessary security clearance, effectively stalling the fair, claimed the dargah mutawalli (custodian).
Notably, the district administration has, however, declared May 19 a local holiday for the urs of Bale Miyan.
Earlier this month, the Bahraich district administration had denied nod for the annual Jeth Mela held at the shrine of
Syed Salar Masud Ghazi
in Bahraich too, citing an LIU report flagging law and order concerns. Before this the state government had denied permission for holding the Sambhal's Neja Mela, also in the name of Salar Masud. This was followed by CM Yogi Adityanath's assertion that glorification of invaders amounted to treason which an "independent India will not tolerate".
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