The ten-day Mahim Fair, centered around the dargah or tomb of religious scholar Makhdum Fakih Ali Mahimi, began on December 16. On Monday, an estimated 60,000 people visited the fair, to offer prayers at the dargah and enjoy the food and rides.
This is the 123rd year of the fair. The first time the fair was documented in government records was in 1901, said Sohail Khandwani, managing trustee of the dargah, the second-most visited Sufi shrine in the city after Haji Ali in Worli. "This is the only gazetted fair in the city because the British officials listed it in the official gazette after finding out the details," said Khandwani.
Mumbai Police carry chaddar to Mahim Dargah on Monday. The city police force has the privilege of laying the first chaddar on the Urs of saint and scholar Makhdoom Ali Mahimi, in Mumbai | Vijay Gohil
Mumbai Police carry chaddar to Mahim Dargah on Monday. The city police force has the privilege of laying the first chaddar on the Urs of saint and scholar Makhdoom Ali Mahimi, in Mumbai | Vijay Gohil
Mumbai Police carry chaddar to Mahim Dargah on Monday. The city police force has the privilege of laying the first chaddar on the Urs of saint and scholar Makhdoom Ali Mahimi, in Mumbai | Vijay Gohil
The fair is held in the week after the Urs or death anniversary of the saint. The 611th annual urs was held on December 10 and 11. Makhdum Fakih Ali Mahimi lived between CE 1372 and 1431. He was a religious scholar who wrote around 13 books on religion and authored an interpretation of the Koran, said Maulana Mohammad Arif Umri, a scholar from Vasai who translated one of the saint's books from Arabic to Urdu. "He wrote in classical Arabic and his treatise on the Koran was published in Egypt," said Umri, adding that the saint's life was marked with miracles. "He never attended a madrassa but could debate on religion with other scholars."
There is no historical record of the fair except for the mention in the colonial gazette. There are unverified claims that the fair grew in expanse during the colonial era when independence seekers came to the fair to circumvent restrictions on political meetings. "In this way, it is similar to the Ganeshotsav festival that was used to galvanize the public and get them involved in the freedom movement," said Umri.
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On Monday, personnel from Mahim police station carried offerings to the dargah. The Mumbai police have the privilege of laying the first chaddar at the shrine. The fair is expected to attract around five lakh visitors. There are additional facilities and security measures at the fair this year, including CCTV cameras.
Photo: Mumbai Police carry chaddar to Mahim Dargah on Monday. The city police force has the privilege of laying the first chaddar on the Urs of saint and scholar Makhdoom Ali Mahimi, in Mumbai.
