LAHORE: The Punjab government has officially declared a public holiday on April 12 in Lahore to mark the celebration of Mela Chiraghan, also known as the Festival of Lights. This announcement was made through a notification issued by the Services and General Administration Department.
According to the notice, the public holiday will be observed only in the Lahore District. It has been announced on the occasion of the annual Urs Mubarak of the famous Sufi saint and Punjabi poet, Hazrat Shah Hussain (RA). This event, which draws thousands of devotees each year, is also popularly referred to as Mela Shalimar.
The notification makes it clear that the public holiday applies only to local and district-level government offices in Lahore. Offices that are part of the Punjab Civil Secretariat, its attached departments, and regional offices will remain open and will not observe this holiday.
Mela Chiraghan is a three-day long spiritual and cultural event that celebrates the life and teachings of Shah Hussain, who lived during the 16th century. The festival includes music, traditional food, poetry, and rituals carried out by the saint’s followers.
This public holiday gives Lahoris a chance to participate in this historic and vibrant local event, which is considered one of the most colorful and spiritually uplifting gatherings in the region.
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