UP Government Bans ‘Neja Mela’ in Sambhal, Demand for Prohibition Spreads
After Sambhal, there is a demand to ban the organization of ‘Neja Mela’ in Bahraich and Moradabad too. This fair has been organized in the name of Syed Salar Masood Ghazi.
The ‘Neja Mela’ held in the Sambhal district of Uttar Pradesh has been banned. This fair has been organized in the name of Syed Salar Masood Ghazi. However, this time the local police administration has not permitted it to be organized. The district administration and police of Sambhal have issued this order. Sambhal’s SSP Shrishchandra told the fair committee, “No fair of any kind will be organized in the name of the foreign invaders who looted and massacred India.” There is a protest everywhere against the ‘Neja Mela’. Let us tell you that the dargah (tomb) of Syed Salar Masood Ghazi is located in Bahraich. After Sambhal, there is a demand to ban the fair in Bahraich and Moradabad as well.
Who is Syed Salar Masood Ghazi?
Syed Salar Masood Ghazi is known as Mahmud Ghaznavi’s nephew and general, i.e., military commander. Mahmud Ghaznavi was notorious for invading the Indian subcontinent. Mahmud Ghaznavi invaded India 17 times from 1000 to 1027. It is said that Mahmud Ghaznavi attacked many big Hindu temples, including the Somnath temple.
Syed Salar Masood Ghazi (10 February 1014-15 June 1034), also known as Ghazi Miyan, was a religious personality. Most information about Syed Salar Masood comes from a book called “Mirat-i-Masudi”, written by Abdur Rahman Chishti in the 1620s. In this book, he is described as the nephew of Mahmud Ghaznavi, the emperor of the Ghaznavid Empire, and it is said that he took part in several military expeditions for the Ghaznavid Empire in India. However, the Ghaznavid historians have not mentioned him, and this book is mainly a hagiography (based on the lives of saints), which is doubtful from a historical point of view.
Opposition from Hindu organizations
Hindu organizations say that Syed Salar Masood Ghazi had attacked India several times. He looted the Somnath temple. No fair should be organized in memory of such a person.
The fair lasted for three days
After Holi in Sambhal, Neja Mela was organized in memory of Syed Salar Masood Ghazi. This was a very old tradition. Objections were raised earlier also regarding this event. There was a plan to hoist the flag of the fair on 18 March in Sambhal. Along with this, the fair committee had announced to organize the fair on 25, 26, and 27 March, but now it has been banned. Now, the Sambhal district administration has clearly said that it will not allow the fair to be organized in the name of robbers.
