The Festival of Lamps or Mela Chiraghan is a very important and popular event. This is celebrated every Spring on the last Friday of March outside Shalimar Gardens. During the Festival, people from all walks of the life gather from all over the province to actively participate in the Festival.
“Mela Chiraghan” or the festival of lamps is celebrated every spring on the last Friday of March, outside the Shalimar. It is a very popular event among the local folks.
Lahore has a number of major departmental stores but do not forget to visit the old Anarkali Bazaar whose shops offer a whole range of local handicrafts from delicately embroidered shawls to the most intricately woven carpets in various designs, shades and hues. 
You should also plan a visit to the Liberty Market in Gulberg and search for some handicraft products like Khussa and home decor articles.
Lahore is well connected by an efficient network of road, rail and air transport with PIA linking the city with all major domestic airports and also regular services on international routes. If you are planning to include Lahore in your itinerary, and it will be a pity if you don’t, do not hesitate to talk to the PIA representative or agent in your area who may well have an attractive package to offer.
MELA Chiraghan (festival of lamps) a mega event for the people of Punjab and especially for Lahorites will start today with traditional fervor and activities at the shrine of the renowned Sufi Shah Hussain in Baghbanpura.
Hundreds and thousands of devotees, from all corners of the Province come over to pay respect and light a 'Chiragh' (Lamp) at the shrine of Shah Hussain every year, hence the name 'Mela Chiraghan or festival of lamps.
Shah Hussain, the poet of love, was born in 1538. He was a radical poet, and his kalam is sung to a spell-bound audience at the site illuminated with thousands of lamps and burning candles. Mai ne Main Kinon Aakhan, "Mahi Mahi Kookdi", "Rabba Meray Hal Da Mehram Toon", "Mandi Han Kay Changi Han Sahab Teri Bandi Han" and "Mein VI Jhok Ranjhan Di Jana Nal Meray Koi Challay" are among some of Hussain's kafees.
He was the first Punjabi Sufi poet who mixed Punjabi with Pothohari, Hindi, Persian and Arabic. But his kafees are so simple that one understands his message without any difficulty. "Knowing God by knowing ourselves" is the main theme of his poetry. His work is romantic and has all the symbols of rich romantic traditions. 
Dr Mohan Singh Diwana collected 163 of his kafees and according to his findings Shah Hussain was a true scholar and intellectual. Some of the researchers wrote that Guru Nanak was the first poet who wrote kafees in Punjabi language but, the kafees of Shah Hussain, Bullhay Shah, Sachal Sarmast, Khawaja Ghulam Farid and Pir Qutab Ali Shah are the gems of Punjabi literature.
The present marble-domed memorial of the Sufi, situated in Baghbanpura, near Shalimar Gardens, does not appear to be very old. It is said that after his death in 1599 AD, Shah Hussain was originally buried at Shahdara, situated on the western bank of the Ravi. But a few years later, the tomb was swept away in a flood. Then it was shifted to the present site.
About 50 years ago, the festival was held on the lawns of Shalimar Garden, but the government of Ayub Khan banned it and it was shifted to the shrine of Madhu Lal Hussain. Shah Hussain's kafees are being sung for centuries by countless lovers of Sufi poetry. It will continue to mesmerize the poetry-lovers with its message of peace and love.
A large number of devotees from other cities like Karachi, Sehwan Sharif, Multan, came to attend the festival. Professional drum beaters accompanied most of the groups visiting the shrine and youth as well as old people and some women danced to the deafening tune.
Beside the grave of Shah Hussain, but under the same dome, there is the grave of Madhu Lal, the son of a Hindu Brahmin, with whom the saint was deeply attached. Therefore, a large number of Hindus also came to attend the Urs.
Devotees sitting in and around the shrine attributed a number of karamat to Shah Hussain. One may or may not believe them, but none can deny the literary genius of the saint. Even today, his poetry attracts a great audience.
The festival attracts a large number of performing artistes who mostly sing Shah Hussain's kafees and dance to the drums. Locals said before partition the shrine was the focal point for celebrating Basant. Historically speaking, Maharaja Ranjit Singh used to celebrate the festival of Basant at the saint's tomb. Once Maharaja presented robes of honor to all his cabinet members and ordered them to reach the tomb in Basanti dress. The infantry was ordered to dress in the same color and stand on both sides of the road from the Fort to the tomb.
One of the attractions of the festival is the bazaar. In the past it was a major point of buying and selling, but presently it is squeezed to general goods, toys, edibles and some stalls of garments and bangles.
"On the very first day of the Mela, the processions which come to pay their homage to the great saint are worth-watching especially after dusk. One is overtaken by the drum's sound and feels like dancing dhamaal with the derveshs," said Shafique a resident of Multan. He said he came to Lahore some days back to attend a marriage, but decided to stay till the end.
"I came from Karachi to participate in the festival," said a half-naked young man sitting beside a small fire. He was wearing different chains studded with big and small stones and was rubbing ash on his body. He said he and his group worshipped fire and came to the festival every year.
Hundreds of people were sitting in the graveyard around the shrine, while a large number of people were also seen sleeping on the graves. "We all have to go under the earth so I do not feel any hesitation in sleeping beside a grave," said an old man who refused to tell his name. He shouted Lal Shahbaz Qalander and Madhu Lal Hussain and lay down beside the shrine.
Tents were erected in the open place around the shrine where hundreds of people, mostly youth were openly smoking Charas and Bhang. Some were filing cigarettes, some were puffing and some were preparing bhang.
"Using Charas and Bhang is the traditional part of the festival and we cannot stop anyone. The devotees are allowed to use Charas and Bhang during the festival, but only in the premises of the shrine," said a police inspector.
