Bahawalpur to Observe Public Holiday for Mela Channan Pir

For the Mela Channan Pir celebration in Bahawalpur, the local government has declared a public holiday on March 7 and a notification has been issued in this regard. According to the notice, Thursday, March 7, will be a local holiday in the district to celebrate the occasion.

Channan Pir, which is located around 65 kilometers away from Bahawalpur, is famous for a Sufi Saint who requested to be buried in an open grave covered with a green cloth. His shrine is visited by many devotees seeking blessings.

The festival named after him, Mela Channan Pir, is celebrated in the Cholistan desert over seven Thursdays starting from February each year. The fifth Thursday is the most significant and is marked as a local holiday. This festival is an important part of the cultural and spiritual heritage of Cholistan.

For centuries, people from all over Cholistan and beyond have gathered to participate in the festivities. It has become the most popular festival in southern Punjab, where Hindus and Muslims join together in various activities like theater performances, magic shows, dancing, rides, horse and camel shows, jewelry shopping, and enjoying delicious food.

Many visitors choose to stay overnight and depart on Friday morning after experiencing a magical night on the sand dunes under the open sky. During the festival, sacred sweets called tabbaruk are distributed, and those who consume them believe they will have good luck in their endeavors.

Additionally, every February, Urs, the death anniversary of the Sufi Saint, is commemorated with devotees from all over Pakistan participating in colorful events such as Sufi dancing and camel performances to honor his memory.

Despite the local public holiday in Bahawalpur, the matriculation exams in the district will take place as per schedule.

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