Roshni Mela
from words meaning light and fair
A three-day fair of earthen lamps and prayers held at a Sufi shrine in Punjab.
Held in Jagraon and Ludhiana, this fair honors Sufi saints Baba Mohkam Din and Gaus Pak. Thousands gather to light earthen lamps, pray, and celebrate with folk songs and wrestling.
- Held from 14 to 16 of Phagan in Jagraon and Ludhiana.
- Honors Sufi saint Baba Mohkam Din and Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani.
- Thousands visit to light earthen lamps and pray at the mazar.
- Features an annual wrestling competition and Punjabi folk songs.
- Stories of miracles encourage monthly donations at Gyarvi Shareef.
What it is
Roshni Mela is a festival of lights celebrated in Jagraon and Ludhiana. It centers on the mazar of Baba Mohkam Din and honors the Qadiri Sufi saint Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani, known as Gaus Pak. Thousands of visitors travel from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh to attend. The event combines religious devotion with community gatherings, featuring prayers at shrines and cultural performances.
Where it comes from
The fair commemorates Baba Mohkam Din, who died in February 1913. His tomb is managed by his adopted son, Syed Hameeray Shah, who served as the Khalifa and Mutawalli. The lineage traces back to Peer Syed Amin Shah Sahib Naqshbandi. Another version of the mela in Ludhiana honors Gaus Pak, whose Qadiri order originated in Baghdad after his death in 1166 AD.
How it is done
Devotees light earthen lamps near the tombs of the saints and offer prayers. The fair includes a traditional wrestling competition organized by the Sai Mian Meer International Foundation. Participants also sing traditional Punjabi folk songs throughout the three-day event.
Tools and materials
The primary tool is the earthen lamp, lit near the mazar during the celebration. The mazar itself serves as the focal point for rituals and offerings.
Roshni Mela, drawn and placed
- Living
- Revived
- Fading
- Historical
- Legendary
- Performed
- Lineage
- Qadiri and Naqshbandi Sufi orders
- Timing
- 14 to 16 of Phagan
What it is for
The mela is held to honor the memory of Baba Mohkam Din and seek blessings from the Sufi saints. It serves as a gathering for devotees to express faith through prayer and communal activities.
Who does it
The mazar is overseen by a Sajjada Nashin and Mutawalli, such as Maulvi Mazhar Hassan, who migrated to Pakistan in 1947. Ordinary households and pilgrims from neighboring states participate in the lighting of lamps and prayers.
Peoples and places
The fair attracts people primarily from Punjab, as well as Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh. It reflects the shared cultural and religious practices of the Punjabi region across borders.
At a glance: who, where and when
Peoples
Belief worlds
Occasions
What people believe
Stories surround the power of the saints, such as the tale of Rudi, who was guided to supplicate to Allah after her son's ferry sank. This narrative encourages donations to Gyarvi Sharif and monthly celebrations on the eleventh day.
When it is done
The main fair takes place from the 14th to the 16th of Phagan. Additional celebrations occur on the eleventh day of every month at Gyarvi Shareef in east Punjab.
Today
The tradition continues with annual wrestling competitions and folk songs. Historical ties link the management of the mazar to families who migrated to Pakistan, maintaining connections between the sites in India and Pakistan.
Questions people ask about Roshni Mela
What is Roshni Mela?
It is a three-day festival of lights held in Jagraon and Ludhiana to honor Sufi saints. Devotees gather to light earthen lamps and offer prayers at the shrines.
When is it held?
The fair occurs from the 14th to the 16th of Phagan each year. Additional celebrations take place on the eleventh day of every month at Gyarvi Shareef.
Who do devotees honor?
They pay respects to Baba Mohkam Din and Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani, known as Gaus Pak, a patron saint of the Qadiri Sufi order founded in Baghdad.
What activities take place?
Visitors light earthen lamps, pray, sing folk songs, and watch wrestling matches organized by the Sai Mian Meer International Foundation during the fair.
Why is it called Festival of Lights?
The name reflects the central practice of lighting earthen lamps near the shrines of the saints during the three-day celebration.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Roshni mela", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryJaadu rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. Names and customs differ from one community to the next, and some knowledge is closed to outsiders and left out here. This page describes belief and practice. It does not say that any of it works, it is not a how-to, and it is not medical advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-11.
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