Maghi Mela begins at Sri Muktsar Sahib amid heightened security and revival of political conferences

As it geared up for lakhs of devotees, centuries-old Maghi Mela opened in Sri Muktsar Sahib on Wednesday to commemorate the martyrdom of the Forty Muktas (Chali Mukte in Punjabi), who laid down their lives fighting the Mughal forces in the Battle of Khidrana in 1705. After the battle, Khidrana came to be known as Muktsar — the “pool of liberation”.

According to Sikh history, the martyrdom took place during the period of Vaisakh (April–May). However, due to water scarcity about a century ago, the annual fair began to be organised on Magh Sankranti in January and came to be known as the Maghi Mela, a tradition that continues till today.

Venue of state level program of AAP government at Kotkapura road, district Sri Muktsar Sahib.

Gurdwaras also organise separate commemorative programmes in May as per the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).

The three-day Maghi Mela, beginning on January 13 and concluding on January 15, draws devotees from across Punjab and neighbouring states. Pilgrims take a holy dip in the sarovar at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib and pay obeisance to the Forty Muktas.

Alongside religious fervour, political activity is set to regain prominence at the Maghi Mela this year after several years of relatively low-key participation. Political conferences at the mela date back to the mid-1950s.

In 2017, then Akal Takht Jathedar, Giani Gurbachan Singh, had appealed to political parties not to hold conferences at religious fairs associated with martyrdom. Following this, parties discontinued political conferences at Shaheedi Jor Mela at Sirhind held on December 26 every year and at Maghi Mela from 2018, except the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and few other groups. The SAD meanwhile has maintained that Maghi Mela conferences predated the party’s formation in 1920 and that the martyrdom itself occurred in Vaisakh.

Meeting at the house of SAD, president Sukhbir Singh Badal at Badal village ahead of poll conference.

This year, however, political activity has intensified again. The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is organising a state-level programme on Wednesday near DAV School on Kotkapura Road, where Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann will address the gathering after paying homage at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib. Sources claimed that state-run transport corporations — Punjab Roadways, PRTC and Pepsu Roadways — have been directed to ply buses to bring people to the programme, triggering sharp criticism from the Congress.

Questioning the use of government resources, AICC Punjab incharge Bhupesh Baghel alleged gross misuse of official machinery. “Who will pay for these buses — the Punjab government or the AAP? This question must be answered,” he said.

Notably, the AAP is holding a Maghi Mela political conference after nearly a decade. The party last organised such an event in 2016 ahead of the 2017 Assembly elections. From 2018, political conferences had reduced significantly, with mainly the SAD, the SAD (Amritsar) and a few independent groups organising programmes. Correspondingly, security deployment had also been reduced to around 3,300–4,300 personnel over the years. This year, however, over 6,000 police personnel have been deployed, matching the security arrangements last seen in 2016.

The SAD will hold its political conference at its traditional venue at the SGPC ground, while the BJP will make its debut with a conference on Malaut Road. SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal has been holding meetings across Malwa and claimed the conference would set the tone for the 2027 Assembly polls. BJP state general secretary Anil Sarin said party workers from Faridkot, Bathinda, Fazilka, Mansa and Muktsar districts would attend the conference.

Meanwhile, the Congress has decided to not organise a political rally during the mela. Instead, it held an ‘MGNREGA Bachao Sangram’ rally in Muktsar on January 12. Baghel said the Congress was following the Akal Takht edict discouraging political conferences during the sacred occasion.

To ensure smooth conduct of the mela, the district administration has declared January 14 a public holiday in Sri Muktsar Sahib district.

Special DGP (Law and Order) Arpit Shukla reviewed security, traffic and public convenience arrangements, stating that the city has been divided into seven sectors with multi-layered security, CCTV surveillance, drone monitoring, nakas and designated parking and bus stands. A 300-metre no-vehicle zone has been enforced around Gurdwara Darbar Sahib.

The district administration has also set up special control rooms for public assistance during the mela.