900-year-old tradition disrupted: No Bale Miyan fair in Gorakhpur this year

Time of India

18-05-2025

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".
The Bale Miyan fair is usually held on the banks of the Rapti river in Bahrampur, where a sprawling ground hosts the festivities. Despite the announcement made by dargah mutawalli Mohammad Islam Hashmi earlier this month, no visible preparations have taken place at the venue.
While the committee had formally written seeking security arrangements, officials have not taken any decision so far.
Adding to the uncertainty, large amounts of construction material have been stockpiled at the fairground due to the ongoing widening work of the Herbert Dam.
"In previous years, the local administration always began preparations for the fair. This year, things were different though. Since we didn't hear anything from the district administration, we submitted a letter to the divisional commissioner seeking security arrangements at the fair.
We didn't hear back from them though," the mutawalli said. TOI has a copy of the letter submitted to the divisional commissioner on March 18.
According to Hashmi, the fair was supposed to run until June 16. However, as of Saturday evening, the usual hustle and bustle was missing, indicating that only a few devotees might arrive for prayers—without the festive environment the fair typically brings.
On the contrary, ADM (city) Anjani Kumar said, "I have not received any request letter so far for the Bale Miyan fair.
They only informed us that they will do some rituals, distribute prasad and also offer chadar on the shrine inside the premises. They also informed us that they will set up 15 shops inside their campus, which requires no approval as it is inside their premises."
Salar Masood, a semi-legendary figure, is believed to be the nephew of Mahmud of Ghazni and served as his military commander. The main source of information about him is contained in Mirat-i-Masudi, a Persian-language hagiography written by Abdur Rahman Chishti during the reign of Jahangir.
According to Mirat-i-Masudi, Ghazi was killed in a battle with Maharaja Suheldev of Shravasti at Bahraich in 1034 CE. Where he is believed to have been buried is now the Dargah Sharif in Bahraich.
Though Ghazi doesn't find mention in any contemporary 11th century Ghaznavid chronicles, he had become a well-known figure in Delhi Sultanate by the 12th century, when the pilgrimage to his tomb in Bahraich appears to have started.