*WARNING: The following contains spoilers Reality aside, let's discuss the poem itself.
Maybe next time I visit Jhang I can finally tie my churiyan for Mai Heer (as a token, of course). It just goes to show that true love is looked upon as something sacred- it is a miracle and blessing from God. Both graves also have knots of cloth tied to them - left by people who have asked for intercession for something they desire or need (mannat maangne ke liye). Both are ornately decorated with turbans, a rich shroud, and a bowl of blessed salt which is there for people to taste. (Although Islamically, this is wrong and unnecessary - you don't need intercession in order to speak to your God - sinner or saint).Īnyhow, I noticed many parallels between the two graves. He is regarded as a saint and people visit his grave and pray and ask for his intercession. Interestingly, the only school there was built by my great-grandfather.Īnyways, there I visited the rosa or mausoleum of my direct ancestor - Pir Abdul Qadir Gilani II. My father's family were the major landlords of the village and throughout the entire province. When I visited Pakistan this last winter, I was able to visit my own village, Pir Kot (Sadhana) in Jhang.
I have, however, seen photographs and a video tour of the Darbar. I myself have not visited the actual grave, even though I am natively from the Jhang province. Women tie churiyan to the posts around the tomb as a sort of mannat maang or even just as a humble token left for the dead lovers (similar to throwing of rose petals on the graves of relatives). There they moan their grievances to Mai Heer and Mian Ranjha, who are now looked upon as patron saints of love. It is a court of true love and has become a point of pilgrimage for forlorn lovers. Their mausoleum is now known as Darbar Ashiq-e-Sadiq. While unable to freely live out their lives together as husband and wife as they had so longed for, they now share their tomb in death. Heer was from Jhang, Ranjha from Hazara (according to Waris Shah they were opposing tribes). It is based off of the true and tragic love story of Heer & Ranjha. Pre-dating Romeo & Juliet this Punjabi Epic Poem was composed most famously by Waris Shah. I grew up gazing at Allah Bakhsh's Sohni Mahiwal, pondering their sad story - possibly one of the most beautiful paintings I have ever seen - you can see it here. My paternal grandfather happened to be an art collector who invested in both artists. (Interesting note: He and Chughtai are amongst South Asia's most treasured artists. ) Background: Pre-dating Romeo & Juliet this Punjabi Epic Poem was composed most famously by Wari Heer Ranjha by Allah Bakhsh (Interesting note: He and Chughtai are amongst South Asia's most treasured artists.