LAHORE - Mela Chiraghan, festival of light marking the 421st annual Urs of Hazrat Shah Hussain (RA), a saint with a different trait and a mystic poet of Punjabi with distinction, commonly known as Madhu Lal Hussain who lived in Lahore in 16th century (1538-1599), began with traditional fervour at Shalimar, Saturday evening. It is perhaps the biggest festival of Punjab after the Urs of Data Ganj Bakhsh (RA) and Baba Farid (RA) of Pakpattan. Mela Chiraghan has many distinctions particularly the singing of 'kafi' of Shah Hussain in Punjab, who was perhaps the pioneer of Kafi that carried rich intellectual and spiritual values. He himself sang his own kafis before the people bringing big applause. His kafis reflect the defiant attitude and independence of thought, away from the contemporary thoughts of religious and social hierarchy. The whirling dervishes on the tunes of drums sing kafis at the Mela. It is a rare event of whirling and dancing on the beats of drum. Its rhythm is a heart catching as Shah Hussain's Kafis carry rich musical values and element of entertainment, liked by folk of Punjab. The other attraction at the Mela is a huge bonfire created by earthen lamps and candles beside the shrine of Shah Hussain. People carry bundles of candles to burn at the bonfire kept on burning continuously for 72 hours. The devotees never let up extinguishing of this fire, a symbol of inner fire of the saint. The devotees find solace and spiritual comfort by paying homage to the saint, offering floral wreath, 'fateha' and seeking his bounties. The ecstasy of mixing in the crowd and humming festivities is another joy for the devotees, majority of whom come from rural Punjab. Yet another attraction is the bazaar set up at the road inside Baghbanpura where handicrafts, utensils, earthen pots, indigenous merchandise and products of different regions of Punjab, traditional food items, theatres, merry go rounds swings, circus etc beautify the event. The opening day witnessed thousands of devotees from across the province and parts of Lahore. The City District Government declared Saturday as local holiday. The final day on Monday will be reserved for ladies. The ladies from the City slums and rural Punjab visit the shrine to pay home to the saint and for the realisation of their wishes. The Auqaf department has made befitting arrangements for the celebration of the Urs but there was little attendance in the tableeghi and qawwali sessions.