Jeth Mela faces uncertainty after Neja Mela ban

Bahraich is facing uncertainty over the future of the Jeth Mela, an important annual event at the Dargah Hazrat Syed Salar Masood Ghazi. This follows a recent ban on the Neja Mela in Sambhal. The local unit of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has asked the district administration to also ban the Jeth Mela, set to start on May 15. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath made a statement in Bahraich suggesting that any celebration of historical invaders could be seen as treason. His comments have increased tensions surrounding the upcoming festival. Each year, thousands of devotees visit the dargah, which honors Syed Salar Masood Ghazi, a notable historical figure linked to Mahmud of Ghazni. Syed Salar Masood Ghazi is believed to have died in a battle in 1034 CE against Maharaja Suheldev. Though he is not mentioned in 11th-century accounts, his reputation grew over time, especially during the Delhi Sultanate period. By the 13th century, his tomb was recognized, and it was expanded with structures by later rulers like Feroz Shah Tughlaq. The dargah hosts four annual Urs, celebrated by the Uttar Pradesh Waqf Board. In contrast, members of the Maharaja Suheldev Seva Samiti hold a Vijayotsav Diwas at Chittaura Lake on the same day as the Jeth Mela, celebrating Suheldev's victory. The situation remains tense as the community awaits a decision on the festival's fate.