The centuries-old Jeth Mela, an annual fair held at the shrine of Saiyad Salar Masud Ghazi—revered by both Hindus and Muslims—is set to be cancelled this year following a decision by the Uttar Pradesh government to withhold permission.

The fair, which draws lakhs of devotees to the dargah in Bahraich near the Indo-Nepal border, has long stood as a symbol of the region’s syncretic heritage. However, citing law and order concerns, the administration has called off the event, news agency PTI reported.

Authorities claimed that the decision was influenced by the prevailing security situation, particularly in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack.

“The decision to deny permission for the mela was taken to maintain peace and security, given the current circumstances.” Circle Officer Pahup Kumar Singh told PTI.

City Magistrate Shalini Prabhakar added that input was taken from various departments, all of which advised against holding the fair this year.

“All of them indicated that due to law and order concerns, it was not appropriate to recommend or permit the fair now. The mela manager has been informed of this decision,” she said.

The cancellation comes against the backdrop of increasing political and ideological pressure targeting the legacy of Ghazi Mian, an 11th-century figure believed to be the nephew of Mahmud of Ghazni and often referred to as a military saint.

While local folklore celebrates him as a revered martyr with widespread appeal across communities, the Sangh Parivar has in recent decades portrayed him as a foreign invader defeated by Hindu warrior Maharaja Suheldev.

In March, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, during a visit to Bahraich, indirectly invoked Ghazi Mian, stating that the “glorification” of invaders amounted to “consolidating the foundation of treason.”

Since then, several local authorities have begun denying permission for events related to Ghazi Mian. In Sambhal, the annual Neja Mela was also disallowed, with officials describing the honoree as an “invader,” “plunderer,” and “murderer,” despite its longstanding tradition.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and affiliated organisations have made sustained efforts to reframe the narrative around Ghazi Mian, often juxtaposing him against Suheldev, a figure venerated among Rajbhar and Pasi communities. Within this political reinterpretation, Suheldev is presented as a Hindutva icon who resisted Islamic expansion in the region, while Ghazi Mian is cast as an adversary of Indian civilisation.

Yet, for many in the region, the dargah of Ghazi Mian remains a powerful spiritual and cultural site. It has historically drawn not just Muslims but Hindus who believe in its miraculous powers, including its reputed ability to cure skin ailments. Marriage processions in honour of Ghazi Mian, whose wedding was believed to have been thwarted by his death, are still a part of local tradition.

Until recently, the Bahraich district’s official website celebrated the shrine as a place of shared devotion and listed the annual Urs as a key regional festival. However, references to the dargah and the fair have now been quietly removed from the site, last verified on May 4.

The cancellation of the Jeth Mela marks a significant shift, signalling what appears to be a more direct effort by the state to marginalise the centuries-old shrine, moving from historical reinterpretation to administrative action.