HATSINGIMARI, Jan 31 � The three-day Joleswar Urus Fair, popularly known as Joleswar Urus Mela, the largest Urus festival (mela) of lower Assam, concluded recently at Katarihara near the Joleswar town of Goalpara district.
The age-old Joleswar Urus Mela is held on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Pir Kamel Hazrat Shah Soyed Nasir Uddin Ahmed Kadri Bagdadi. Lakhs of devotees from all castes and communities from Assam, Meghalaya and West Bengal come with mannayats (sacrificial animals), seeking blessings from the Pir Baba. Wishing the fulfilment of their wishes, countless male and female devotees come to the mazar sharif of the Pir with different mannayats like monkeys, cocks, hens, ducks, goats, sheep, cows, buffaloes, etc., decorated with garlands.
The mazar sharif belonging to the Sufi Pir, Kamel Hazrat Shah Soyed Nasir Uddin Ahmed Kadri Bagdadi, popularly known as Bagdadi, is located at Jaleswar-Katarihara, 70 km from Hatsingimari. The saint is called Bagdadi as he arrived from Baghdad, the capital of Iraq. The Pir was also a leader of the Sufi Movement. Each year, tourists from various parts of Assam and West Bengal visit this mazar sharif to take part in the Urus. The tomb of this saint on the model of the Taj Mahal is a very popular destination. The interiors of the tomb are embellished with Arabic calligraphy.
This time, on the occasion of Urus Mubarak, which was the 80th birth anniversary of the Pir, more than 10 lakh devotees visited the Urus and made ziyarat to the shrine of the Pir. Thousands of men and women staying in temporary tents and singing zikir and zari all round the clock, braving the cold, created a festive atmosphere all around. The shrine authorities arranged food and lodgings for all the devotees. Hundreds of volunteers were also seen working day and night in all the areas.
The Joleswar Urus Mela is a symbol of peace and communal harmony where the people of all castes and creeds take part. It may be mentioned here that no police or any other security personnel were deployed to maintain discipline among the thousands of assembled people.
