Punjab: Muktsar comes alive with Maghi Mela celebrations

Punjab: Celebrating Diwali in Amritsar and Maghi in Muktsar is a must for many people visiting Punjab. Muktsar sees a huge influx of people at this time of the year, where people gather to witness the Maghi Mela and pay obeisance at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib. As you travel the streets, you will find many ‘langars’ (community kitchens) and religious ceremonies taking place at all the gurdwaras, which are beautifully decorated for the occasion. The three-day polo matches also concluded today at Lambi Dhab village, where a livestock market has been set up, attracting breeders from Punjab and beyond, especially for horses and dogs. In addition, the district administration is hosting two plays this year – Sirhind Di Deewar and Mai Tera Banda, which will be staged at Dera Bhai Mastan Singh Public School on January 13 and 14 respectively.
The city is bustling and traffic jams are common, although the rain on Saturday continues to create problems. For instance, the mela ground on Malout Road, where swings are set up, remains wet and muddy. Security measures have turned the town into a virtual police fortress, with around 4,300 officers deployed. Several ‘nakas’ (checkpoints) have been set up on all major roads, and CCTV cameras have been installed across the area. To manage the influx of visitors, the district administration has set up temporary bus stands on all major roads, as vehicles are not allowed to enter the town on Tuesday. “We have planned a free shuttle service with 15 e-rickshaws and 30 buses for commuters,” said Muktsar deputy commissioner Rajesh Tripathi. However, commuters are facing some difficulties on Malout Road due to the ongoing construction of two bridges at Rupana village.