Sultan Shah Dargah showcases peace, harmony and solidarity

Manoj Debbarma

AFTER THE PARTITION IN 1947, many Hindu families from East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) relocated to India, specifically to Tripura. Similarly, many Muslim families also moved to Bangladeshi.

In 1950, Sachindra Mohan Lodh of Brahmanbaria in Bangladesh migrated to Tripura by exchanging his property with Habijuddin, a resident of Anandanagar, north of Agartala in Tripura. Fakir Sultan Shah was sheltering in Habijuddin's house at that point of time.

As a mark of respect to a verbal agreement between Sachindra Mohan Lodh and Habijuddin at the time of the relocation, the Dargah festival of Fakir Sultan Shah is still being held. This festival is a unique example of building bridges between Hindus and Muslims as it is observed with great devotion by the Hindu Sanatanis following different religious rules, even though the area is now predominantly Hindu. 

This is a testament to the responsibility of the religious majority to protect the religion, language and culture of the religious minority.

The Sultan Shah Dargah Fair serves as a guiding light in this direction and should be an ideal example for our future path. Every year, on the 24th of the Bengali month of Paush, the Pirs and Fakirs of Gawardi, Dharithal, Jamtali, and Jarulbachai come to this shrine.

Baul and Murshidi song sessions would go on all night and they would leave for their respective destinations in the morning. The belief that Peer Baba has not died still holds strong in the area, and many people come to pray at this Dargah in the hopes of having their wishes fulfilled.

It is also worth noting that a highly educated young man named Biplab Lodh, a devotee of Sultan Shah, was worshiping at this Dargah with devotion for the last fifty years. After his death in 2022, he was buried in front of the Dargah as per his last wishes.

The Sultan Shah Dargah Fair started on a small scale in 1990, thanks to the dedicated efforts of the energetic youth of the area, including Tapan Lodh, Swapan Lodh, Malay Lodh, Abu Fakir and Chan Mia.

In 1994, the fair received government recognition and financial support, and it has since grown to attract thousands of devoted and enthusiastic people from both within and outside the state. The fair also organises a pleasant cultural programme every year, with the participation of local and invited guest artists.

This not only entertains the rural common people but also provides a platform for local talented artists to showcase their skills. It is important to remember that we all have our own religions and festivals, but we share the same earth, sky, wind, sun, planet and stars. We are all part of the same family with the same ancestors and existence. To convey this message, we must all come together at the Sultan Shah Dargah Milan Mela (Unity Fair).

Further, to make this place more attractive and convenient for tourists and pilgrims, various programmes, including the construction of a religious tourist residence and community hall, have been undertaken by the local MLA. With all these efforts, it is expected that the Sultan Shah Dargah will have a unique place on the religious tourism map of the state in the coming days.

(The writer is a senior information officer in the Department of Information and Cultural Affairs, Tripura)

January 08, 2025