Sri Muktsar Sahibਸ੍ਰੀ ਮੁਕਤਸਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ

Sri Muktsar Sahib (ਮੁਕਤਸਰ), usually called Muktsar, is a historic city in southwestern Punjab's Malwa region and the headquarters of Sri Muktsar Sahib district. It takes its name from the Battle of Muktsar of 1705, where Guru Gobind Singh Ji's Khalsa faced the Mughal army and forty Sikhs won the liberation — mukti — that gave the city its name: the Pool of Liberation.

The town grew around a great holy pool and the shrines that remember the battle. Every January, hundreds of thousands of devotees gather here for Mela Maghi, one of the largest religious gatherings of the Sikhs, to take a dip in the same sarovar.

Khidrana di Dhab: the name before Muktsar

The present city was once a semi-desert terrain called Khidrana or Khidrane di dhab, settled near a lake. The Sutlej is said to have shifted its course as far east as Muktsar in historical times, levelling whatever lay in its way — which is why the area carries almost no ancient buildings. Brar Jats of the region, under Chaudary Kapura, fought alongside Guru Gobind Singh Ji and the Chali Mukte against the Mughal armies.

The Battle of Muktsar, 1705

After the siege of Anandpur Sahib in 1704, forty Sikhs led by Maha Singh had written bedava — formal disclaimers — and left Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Shamed by Mai Bhago (Mata Bhag Kaur), they rode back to seek him out and met the Mughal army of Wazir Khan at Khidrane di Dhab. From a mound (tibbi) the Guru showered arrows on the imperial troops; thirst, searing heat and the Sikhs' fierce resistance forced the Mughals to retreat.

When the dead were being gathered, Maha Singh was found still alive. The Guru embraced him and, at his request, tore up the bedava — declaring the forty Guru Gobind Singh Ji's liberated ones, the muktas. From that mukti, and the sar (sarovar) by which it happened, the place took its name: Muktsar, the Pool of Liberation.

The gurdwaras of Muktsar

The main shrine is Gurdwara Tuti Ganddi Sahib, built by the first Sikh residents who settled here after 1743. Its large holy pool has the darbar sahib on its western bank, and the shrine stands in memory of the forty muktas. Tuti gandi means “broken ties” — the Guru's tearing of the bedava document.

In the same complex, near the southeastern corner of the pool, stands Gurdwara Tambu Sahib, built by Maharaja Mohinder Singh of Patiala. About 50 metres from the sarovar is Gurdwara Shahidganj Sahib, built by Raja Wazir Singh of Faridkot, where the Guru is believed to have cremated the martyrs. Gurdwara Tibbi Sahib marks the mound from which the Guru directed the battle; some 200 metres east, Gurdwara Rakabsar Sahib recalls the spot where his horse's stirrup (rakab) snapped. Gurdwara Sri Datansar Sahib and, on the Muktsar–Bathinda road, Gurdwara Taran Taran Sahib are also tied to Guru Gobind Singh Ji's stay here.

Mela Maghi

Every January the city hosts Mela Maghi, the annual tribute to the forty martyrs. Devotees arrive in huge numbers on 13 January at the gurdwaras, and the main event falls on 14 January, the day after Lohri — counted among the most important of all Sikh religious gatherings. Taking a dip in the holy pool is considered pious; despite the biting cold, sangats come from across Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. The fair runs for more than a fortnight, with stalls and rides, and political parties hold major rallies in the city during the mela.

The city today

Sri Muktsar Sahib became a district headquarters in November 1995 — earlier a tehsil of Ferozepur from 1947 to 1972, then of Faridkot — and was officially renamed Sri Muktsar Sahib in February 2012. The 2011 census put its population at 117,085, making it Punjab's 14th largest city. In May 2005 the city unveiled Mukt-e-Minar, an 81-foot khanda ringed by forty rings — among the world's tallest khandas — marking 300 years since the last Mughal–Khalsa battle.

The second Sikh Guru, Guru Angad Dev Ji, was born at Matte-di-Sarai (Sarainaga) in this same district, about 16 km east of the city. Muktsar is known for the Muktsari kurta pajama and the Muktsari jutti, and its people speak the Malwai dialect of Punjabi. Nearby cities include Bathinda (53 km), Ferozepur (52 km), Faridkot (50 km) and Abohar (56 km).

Why is it called Muktsar?

In 1705 Guru Gobind Singh Ji tore up the bedava letters of the forty Sikhs who died fighting beside him at Khidrana, declaring them liberated — muktas. The pool (sar) where this happened gave the place its name: Muktsar, the Pool of Liberation.

What happens at Mela Maghi?

On 13–14 January devotees gather at the gurdwaras, take a dip in the holy pool, and pay obeisance at the shrines of the forty martyrs. The fair extends for over a fortnight with stalls and rides, and major political rallies are held in the city during the mela.