Mela Chiraghan starts

LAHORE
THE flames of the symbolic grand bonfire danced to the beats of drums as three-day Mela Chiraghan, the “Festival of Lights” celebrations, started on Saturday marking the Urs (death anniversary) of the Punjabi Sufi poet and saint Shah Hussain.
Just adjacent to the fabulous Mughal monument “Shalimar Gardens” in Lahore is the shrine of the famous Sufi saint Shah Hussain, which is the venue of an annual traditional celebrations full of cultural vehemence and zeal. The shrine of Shah Hussain in Baghbanpura becomes alive every year with colours, tunes, dances, and drumbeats.
Nearly half a million people from every corner of Pakistan and every religion come to attend this colourful and festive extravaganza. Joyful people sing and cultural dances are performed on the stage.
All sorts of ethnic foods are served from Gol Gappas, sweetmeats, Qatlamas, and fruit Chaats to Bhang-mixed Pappars and thousands of candles are set in the earthenware lamps and lit by disciples. The major part of the historic Grand Trunk Road near the shrine was decorated with stalls, toy shops, and food outlets. The festivities and handcrafts reflected the folklore and traditional rituals of Punjabi mystics and culture. Whirling dervishes danced to the tunes of drums and recited Kafis written by Shah Hussain.
Pilgrims sat around the bonfire where by doing so was believed that their prayers would be answered and others came and tossed candles into the bonfire hoping that their wishes would be fulfilled. People danced and celebrated throughout the night. The most significant ritual was the gathering of the devotees who carried Chiraghs (Light Lamps) in the honour of Shah Hussain and some of the pilgrims also tossed the lamps into the huge bonfire.