Channan Pir is a village in the Punjab province of Pakistan, it is named after a Sufi saint and contains his tomb. It is located between the Derawar and Din Gargh forts[1] and lies a few kilometres from Yazman town, and in the start of the Cholistan desert. It remains a cherished sanctuary, revered by Hindus and Muslims for centuries.[2]
Channan Punan Pir | |
|---|---|
  Channan Punan Pir | |
| Coordinates: 28°35′N 71°25′E / 28.58°N 71.42°E | |
| Country |  Pakistan |
| Province | Punjab |
| Elevation | 101 m (331 ft) |
| Time zone | UTC+5 (PST) |
History
editChannan Pir's origin is traced back to a saint, Jalaluddin Surkh-Posh Bukhari, who prophesied the birth of a prince to the childless King Sadharan.[2] The prince, named Channan due to his beauty, recited the Islamic Kalma, resulting in his exile.[2]
Narratives differ post-exile: some say Channan disappeared when assassins arrived, others claim he grew into a saint.[2] Despite the variations, all stories end with Channan's disappearance, death, or burial on a mound, rendering it a revered site.[2]
Attempts to construct a mausoleum repeatedly failed due to collapses, lightning, or foundational issues, leading locals to refrain from further attempts.[2] A nearby tree, considered Channan Pir's mother's resting place, serves as a symbolic vessel for devotees' wishes.[2]
Salman Rashid connects the site to Ctesias's Indica, which narrates about a place of celestial worship resembling the Channan Pir festival's timeline.[2] The increasing number of annual visitors, regardless of their faith, underscores the site's role as a fulcrum for expressing human desires for divine intercession.[2]
Festival
editIt is a centre of the spiritual and cultural heritage of Yazman and Cholistan. The annual Channan Pir festival, spanning seven Thursdays, culminates on the fifth week.[2][3]
References
edit- ^ "Places Around Bahawalpur, Channan Pir - PTV". Archived from the original on 2008-04-11.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Miraj, Muhammad Hassan (December 27, 2013). "Channan Pir". DAWN.COM.
- ^ Singh, Sarina (2004). Pakistan & the Karakoram Highway. Lonely Planet. p. 154. ISBN 978-0-86442-709-0. Retrieved 17 March 2011.