Muslims seek permission for Sadbhavana Mela in Sambhal, after disallowing Neja Mela

Security personnel conduct a flag march in view of protests over administration’s restrictions on century-old Neja mela, in Sambhal on March 17, 2025.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Days after the Sambhal district administration denied permission to conduct the annual Neja Mela — a traditional annual fair linked to an 11th century Muslim invader — a village head in the district has sought permission from a senior official to organise a Sadbhavana Mela (harmony fair) on March 25 and 26.

The annual Neja Mela was cancelled after the local administration said it would not allow an event to be held in commemoration of Masud Ghazi, the nephew of Turkish invader Mahmud Ghazni, who allegedly participated in the plunder of Somnath temple in Gujarat a thousand years ago.

Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Shirish Chandra called the fair anti-national and inappropriate. In a video, he can be heard saying: “It is an inappropriate tradition, and continuing it is not advisable. People have been informed that adhering to such practices does not contribute to progress.” He called Masud Ghazi a “murderer and plunderer” who looted temples, including Somnath, and stated that no event could be held in his memory.

Local police conducted flag marches in the area and deployed additional forces to maintain order. Sambhal, a town in western Uttar Pradesh, has been in the spotlight since November 24, 2024, when violence erupted during the survey of a mosque, resulting in the death of five people.