The Sheedi Mela or Sheedi Jaat or Pir Mangho Urs ( ur, شیدی میلا is an annual spiritual festival in
Manghopir
Manghopir or Mangopir ( sd, ) is a neighbourhood in the Malir District, Malir district of Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan, that previously was a part of Gadap Town until 2011.
There are several ethnic groups in Manghopir including Muhajir (Pakistan) ...
neighborhood of
Gadap Town
Gadap Town ( sd, گڏاپ ٽائون , ur, ) is a town in the northwestern part of Karachi with the Hub River on its western limits also forming the provincial border between Sindh and Balochistan, while to the north and east are Jamshoro Dist ...
in
Karachi
Karachi (; ur, ; ; ) is the most populous city in Pakistan and 12th most populous city in the world, with a population of over 20 million. It is situated at the southern tip of the country along the Arabian Sea coast. It is the former c ...
,
Sindh,
Pakistan
Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 243 million people, and has the world's second-lar ...
.
Pir Mangho Urs
Sheikh Hafiz Haji Hasan-al-Maroof Sultan Manghopir or Pir Mangho (Sindhi and Urdu: خواجہ حسن سخی سلطان عرف منگھو پیر ) is the popular name for 13th century Sufi Pir Haji Syed Khawaja Hassan Sakhi Sultan. Sakhi Su ...
is the most important event in the cultural calendar of the
Sheedi
The Siddi (), also known as the Sheedi, Sidi, or Siddhi, or Habshi are an ethnic group inhabiting India and Pakistan. They are primarily descended from the Bantu peoples of the Zanj coast in Southeast Africa and Ethiopia, most whom arrived t ...
community—a community of African-descended Pakistanis. It is held every year at the shrine of
Manghopir
Manghopir or Mangopir ( sd, ) is a neighbourhood in the Malir District, Malir district of Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan, that previously was a part of Gadap Town until 2011.
There are several ethnic groups in Manghopir including Muhajir (Pakistan) ...
, usually in the summer, for four days, with the exact dates decided upon by the community leaders. The Sheedi Mela is separate from the
Manghopir Urs which marks the death anniversary of
Mangho Pir and is held in the Islamic month of
Dhu al-Hijjah.
The festival is famous for the role of the sacred
crocodiles of the shrine, and the African-influence rituals of the Sheedi community. The festival attracts many people of all ethnic groups. People make their mannats (pledges) at the shrine of Pir Mangho through offering fresh meat (seen as sacrificial) to the crocodiles. Shedis believe that the creatures do not harm the saint's followers and because of this bury crocodiles with equal respect and formalities as they would give a human being. There is place reserved for burying dead crocodiles near the shrine.
The highlight of the Manghopir festival also called ‘Shedi Mela’ and a garlanding ceremony, during which the gaddi nasheen (the holy successor) puts a garland around the neck of the chief of the crocodiles (Mor Sahib). Success of this rite depends solely on the mood of old creature, but according to his keeper, he obliges most of the time and presents himself for the ritual, with chunks of fresh meat usually helping do the trick.
As with almost all such holy shrines, Manghopir's shrine is located on a small hill. The grave of the saint remains covered with an embroidered silk fabric in a small tomb while musicians with traditional instruments sing praises for the saint outside. During the festival, the tomb is washed with sandalwood and rose water. Outside the shrine, there are various stalls and mini-shops, selling knickknacks and items associated with the shrine.
Nearby is a crocodile pond, measuring about 400 feet (120 m) long and 200 feet (61 m) wide, which nourished by an underground stream, contains hundreds of crocodiles from six to seven feet in length. ‘Mor Sahib – the Chief of Crocodiles (the eldest one) is about 100 years old and over 12 feet (3.7 m) in length. The flourishing breeding has made the pond too small for the expanding reptile population, which is naturally rough and tough and famous for its longevity. The crocodile population is under threat due to a
water shortage
Water scarcity (closely related to water stress or water crisis) is the lack of fresh water resources to meet the standard water demand. There are two types of water scarcity: physical or economic water scarcity. Physical water scarcity is wher ...
in the pond, caused by established water pumping at the natural source of freshwater for the pond.
During the Sheedi Mela, a large number of people descend on the shrine from all over Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab. There is much fun as the caravans of devotees make their way to the shrine.
See also
*
Sheedi
The Siddi (), also known as the Sheedi, Sidi, or Siddhi, or Habshi are an ethnic group inhabiting India and Pakistan. They are primarily descended from the Bantu peoples of the Zanj coast in Southeast Africa and Ethiopia, most whom arrived t ...
*
Pir Mangho
Sheikh Hafiz Haji Hasan-al-Maroof Sultan Manghopir or Pir Mangho (Sindhi language, Sindhi and Urdu: خواجہ حسن سخی سلطان عرف منگھو پیر ) is the popular name for 13th century Sufi Pir (Sufism), Pir Haji Syed Khawaja ...
*
Afro-Asian
Afro-Asians, African Asians or simply Black Asians, often referred to as Blasians, are persons of mixed Asian and African ancestry. Historically, Afro-Asian populations have been marginalised as a result of human migration and social conflict ...
*
Zanj
Zanj ( ar, زَنْج, adj. , ''Zanjī''; fa, زنگی, Zangi) was a name used by medieval Muslim geographers to refer to both a certain portion of Southeast Africa (primarily the Swahili Coast) and to its Bantu inhabitants. This word is al ...
*
Manghopir
Manghopir or Mangopir ( sd, ) is a neighbourhood in the Malir District, Malir district of Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan, that previously was a part of Gadap Town until 2011.
There are several ethnic groups in Manghopir including Muhajir (Pakistan) ...
*
Manghopir Hills Manghopir Hills are located in between Karachi West District of Sindh and Hub District of Balochistan in Pakistan.
The hills in Karachi are the offshoots of the Kirthar Range. The highest point of these hills in Karachi is about 528m in the extr ...
References
Sheedi Mela begins with ritual aplomb The News International
''The News International'', published in broadsheet size, is one of the largest English language newspapers in Pakistan. It is published daily from Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi/Islamabad. An overseas edition is published from London that cater ...
, July 7, 2008
Croc Fest Dawn (newspaper), 18 June 2009
Culture of the African diaspora
Events in Karachi
Festivals in Karachi
Cultural festivals in Pakistan
*
Sufism in Pakistan
Events in Sindh