Daily Times

Lahore, with its wall city history, mesmerising historical monuments, rich sufi culture, remnants of Mughals and delicious food, has always been a treat. The city is packed with numerous shrines and tombs. Sufis like Bulleh Shah, Madhu Laal Hussain, Mian Mir Qadri and Shah Jamal Qadri are buried on the fertile land of Lahore. These shrines are place of hope, love and harmony.

From the time of the saints till date, sufi culture in Lahore has been constant and firm. Quwali and dhamaal are usual sights at these shrines.

Shah Hussain was so fond of his Brahmin disciple Madholal that he changed his own name to Madho Lal Hussain

Shah Hussain is one such mystic who is still fondly remembered by millions, even after four centuries. Every year, Lahore celebrates ‘Mela Chiragha’ (festival of lights) at the Urs of sufi poet and saint Shah Hussain. Shah Hussain lived in Lahore in the 16th century. The urs takes place at the shrine of Madhu Lal Hussain in Baghbanpura, on the outskirts of Lahore. Auqaf department has allocated a grant of Rs 498,000 for holding urs celebrations.

The festival used to take place in the Shalimar Gardens until President Ayub Khan ordered to ban it in 19958. Shah Hussain was the pioneer of ‘kafi’— a classical form of Punjabi poetry. Kafi is ideally suited for expressing socio-spiritual and existential experiences.

Saint Shah Hussain was born and brought up in Lahore. He was so fond of his Brahmin disciple Madholal that he changed his own name to Madho Lal Hussain and Madho Lal remained steadfast in his loyalty to his master. Along with Madholal, Shah Hussain defied the conventional set up of the society by declaring and proclaiming the supremacy of humanism over everything else.

After Shah Hussain’s death, Madholal became the leader of this sect of sufis. Madholal also lies buried near the tomb of his master, in Lahore.

Shah Hussain’s poems have been performed as songs by various artists including Kaavish, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Abida Parveen, Ghulam Ali, Hamid Ali Bela, Amjad Parvez, Junoon and Noor Jehan, among others.

Following is one of the most famous verses of Shah Hussain’s:

Maaye ni me kinoon akhaan

Dard vichhorre da haalni

(Oh mother, with whom shall I share

The pain of separation)

This year, the festival started on 24thMarch and ended on 26th March. I had a chance to visit this place and I truly enjoyed the ambiance. All the devotees showered rose petals on the shrine of Shah Hussain and Madhu Lal and performed dhamaal. Many lit candles fire torching and lighting candles are an integral part of the event.

This festival has great significance in Lahore’s history and during the three day festival; food stalls do a roaring business. Qawwali and na’at recitals are another major attraction for devotees. For children, swings are installed. The festival also features cultural shows, puppet shows and magic shows.

The writings of Nur Ahmad Chishti,—author of the sufi chronicle Tahqiqat-i-Chishti and Lajwanti Ramkrishna—a recognised authority on the Punjabi sufis are highly recommended. These writings give an insight of the lifestyle of Madhu Lal Hussain and about other sufis.

The writer can be reached at salmanali088@gmail.com, tweeter at Salmani_salu.

Published in Daily Times, April 9^th 2018.