Neja Fair

• 25 Mar 2025

Why in News? 

Recently the Uttar Pradesh administration has banned the Neja fair held in Sambhal. 

Key Points 

• About the fair: 
  • This fair is organised in the memory of Syed Salar Masood Ghazi, nephew and commander of foreign invader Mahmud Ghaznavi . 
    • The tomb of Abdul Salar Ghazi is located in Bahraich district of Uttar Pradesh , which was built by  Firoz Shah Tughlaq . 
  • According to historians, many soldiers of Ghaznavi's army were killed in the conflict between  Prithviraj Chauhan and Mahmud Ghaznavi . 
  • The tombs of these soldiers were built in Sambhal , which later became a centre of faith for the devotees. Later, Neja fairs started being organised at these places. 
    • It is noteworthy that Sambhal was the capital of Prithviraj Chauhan. 
• Reason for Ban: 
  • Mahmud Ghaznavi invaded India 17 times between 1000 and 1027 AD and destroyed many Hindu religious places including the Somnath temple . His commander Syed Salar Masood Ghazi is considered the main architect of these invasions.  
  • In such a situation, it is not appropriate to organise a fair in the memory of a robber and murderer . 
  • The historical background of the fair is linked to foreign invaders , hence it can cause communal tension .