Festivals, Dances, Theatre, Literature, Art in News

Maghi Mela in Punjab

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From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: Maghi Mela

Mains level: Read the attached story

maghi mela

Maghi Mela is being celebrated from January 14.

Maghi Mela

  • Maghi Mela is held in the holy city of Sri Muktsar Sahib every year in January, or on the month of Magh according to the Nanakshahi calendar.
  • It is one of the most important festivals for Sikhs.
  • Today, the Mela starts on Maghi day and continues for another day or two.
  • People from different parts of the state and even outside come to Muktsar to take a holy dip in the sarovar (lake) of Gurdwara Darbar Sahib and enjoy the festivities.
  • The festival marks the martyrdom of 40 Sikh soldiers in the Battle of Khidrana against the Mughals.
  • In the 1700s, the Mughals and Sikhs were at constant war with each other.

About Battle of Khidrana

  • In 1704, during the siege of Anandpur Sahib by the Mughals, 40 Sikh soldiers deserted their posts and fled.
  • Upon arriving at their village near Amritsar, a woman named Mai Bhago scolded them and rallied the fighters to return to Anandpur Sahib in the service of their Guru.
  • The freshly motivated soldiers along with Mai Bhago set off towards Anandpur Sahib to help Guru Gobind Singh hold fort against the Mughals.
  • They met the Guru at Khidrana where they took on a large Mughal army, sacrificing their lives in the process.

Political significance of the Maghi Mela

  • Back in the day, people would arrive in the city days before the actual Maghi day.
  • In the evenings, there would be kavi darbars (poetry sessions) where politicians would speak.
  • This is likely how the political conferences, which can be traced back to the mid-1950s, started.

 

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