Gorakhpur's 900-year-old Bale Miyan fair, held in name of Ghazni's commander, cancelled

The iconic Bale Miyan ka Mela, a 900-year-old annual fair held in honour of Syed Salar Masud Ghazi, will not take place this year, marking an unprecedented disruption to the centuries-old tradition. The month-long event was scheduled to begin from May 18. The district administration has, however, declared May 19 a local holiday for the urs of Bale Miyan, according to a TOI report.

Organisers of the fair claim that local authorities in BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh have not granted the necessary permissions, raising concerns over increasing restrictions on events linked to historical Islamic figures.
This is the first time in living memory that the mela, traditionally held on the 15th night of the Islamic month of Rajab, has been halted under such circumstances. Dedicated to Syed Salar Masud Ghazi, believed to be a commander in Mahmud of Ghazni’s army and referred to locally as Bale Miyan. The cancellation comes on the heels of similar disruptions in Bahraich and Sambhal, where events commemorating Ghazi were also not held this year.
As per TOI report, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has publicly stated that the “glorification of invaders amounted to treason, which independent India will not tolerate.” This rhetoric has been echoed by state officials and is seen as part of a broader trend to marginalize the legacy of Ghazi Mian, a figure revered by both Hindus and Muslims in the region for centuries. The state government has also promoted Maharaja Suheldev, who is credited in some historical accounts with defeating Ghazi Mian, as a counter-symbol to Ghazi’s legacy.
The Allahabad High Court recently refused to intervene in the government’s decision to ban the Bahraich urs, upholding the administration’s stance on law and order. While routine rituals at the dargah are permitted, the annual gatherings and fairs have been effectively halted.
Additionally, ongoing construction work for the widening of the Herbert Dam has further complicated the situation in Gorakhpur, with construction materials occupying the fairgrounds. Organizers claim they submitted formal requests for security arrangements as early as March, but received no response from the administration.