Centuries of unity: Muslim family in Chamba crafts sacred Minjars for iconic festival
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Chamba: In a shining testament to cultural unity and living heritage, Chamba's Mirza family continues to honour the sacred tradition of offering the first minjar (golden tassel) at the revered temples of Lord Lakshmi Narayan and Lord Raghunath during the internationally acclaimed Minjar fair.
Taking this legacy forward, the Mirza family has now begun crafting these sacred minjars by hand and making them available to the public through stalls at their ancestral shop in Chamba's Dogra Bazar. This not only preserves a rich artisanal tradition but also allows devotees and visitors to take home a piece of spiritual and cultural harmony.
Minjar mela is celebrated in the Chamba valley as a commemoration of the victory of the Raja of Chamba over the ruler of Trigarta (now known as Kangra) in 935 AD.
This year, the festival will be celebrated from July 27 to Aug 3.
Septuagenarian Aijaz Mirza Baig, head of the Mirza family, shared that their legacy blends devotion with craftsmanship, continuing to serve as a beacon of coexistence. He emphasised that in Chamba, as in much of India, unity is not merely a value but a living tradition. This deeply rooted mutual respect and centuries-old shared practice embody the enduring spirit of Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb, the syncretic blend of Hindu and Muslim cultures.
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Khalid Baig Mirza, son of the late Asgar Baig Mirza. one of the four brothers of Aijaz Baig Mirza, said that the family begins making minjars in April, sourcing raw materials from either Amritsar or Delhi. "Each minjar takes around 40 minutes to make, and we produce nearly 20,000 minjars of varying qualities, including using silk threads in the lead-up to the Minjar festival," he said, adding that this is not their source of livelihood, but a tradition deeply rooted in their family's legacy, an act of devotion aimed at keeping a centuries-old cultural practice alive.
Anish Mirza, son of Aijaz Baig Mirza, said the festival is one of Himachal Pradesh's most cherished celebrations that reinforces the secular fabric of the nation. "It is not just a cultural event, but a vibrant example of India's unity in diversity," he said.
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