Key Points:
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Event: Mela Chiraghan, the Festival of Lights, is a four-day cultural and spiritual celebration organized by the Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA).
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Dates: The festival is scheduled from Friday, April 11, to April 14, 2025.
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Venues: Activities will be held at Shalimar Gardens and the shrine of 16th-century Sufi poet Shah Hussain in Baghbanpura.
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Daytime Activities: Academic lectures, panel discussions on Shah Hussain’s teachings, poetry recitals, and Punjabi poetry sessions.
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Evening Activities: Sufi qawwali performances, Heer recitals, traditional food stalls, and a handicrafts bazaar.
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Cultural Ritual: Revival of the tradition where devotees light candles and oil lamps as part of spiritual practices.
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Public Holiday: April 12, 2025, has been declared a public holiday in Lahore to facilitate festival attendance. The Express Tribune
The Punjab government is reviving the historic Mela Chiraghan at Shalimar Gardens after a 67-year hiatus, aiming to celebrate and preserve the region’s rich Sufi and cultural heritage. Organized by the Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA), the four-day festival from April 11 to 14, 2025, will feature academic discussions, poetry recitals, Sufi music, traditional food, and a handicrafts bazaar. A public holiday has been declared on April 12 to encourage widespread participation. This initiative underscores the government’s commitment to honoring Lahore’s cultural identity and promoting communal harmony.
