The Annual Uras Mela at Dera Baba Murad Shah Ji, Nakodar, is one of the most eagerly awaited spiritual gatherings in Punjab. Held every year in the month of August, the three-day mela draws hundreds of thousands of devotees from across India and the world.
Nakodar Mela 2025 — Confirmed Dates
The Annual Uras Mela 2025 is scheduled for 28th, 29th, and 30th August 2025. The main celebrations take place on the night of 28–29 August, with the grand Qawwali Mehfil being the spiritual centrepiece of the entire event. Devotees begin arriving from the morning of 28th August and many stay through the night for the pre-dawn langar seva.
Day-by-Day Program
Day 1 — 28 August: Gates open at dawn. The morning begins with the recitation of Gurbani, Kalams, and Sufi verses. Langar seva runs continuously from sunrise. Devotional music performances begin in the afternoon. Caravans and buses from Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Delhi, and Amritsar arrive through the day.
Night of 28–29 August: This is the spiritual heart of the mela. The famous all-night Qawwali Mehfil — headlined by Karamat Ali & Party from Malerkotla — fills the darbaar with the sound of classical Sufi devotion. Tens of thousands sit together under the open sky, united in prayer and love.
Day 2 — 29 August: The main uras day. Special chadar offerings are made at the mazaar of Hazrat Baba Murad Shah Ji. Morning prayers and the main congregational gathering take place. Gurdas Maan and other artists perform in the evening. The langar operates at its largest capacity, serving meals to all who arrive.
Day 3 — 30 August: The mela concludes with closing prayers and the final distribution of prasad. Devotees make their farewell visits to the mazaar before departing.
Key Highlights of the 2025 Mela
Every year, the Nakodar Mela is distinguished by several beloved traditions. The all-night qawwali session is always the most anticipated — devotees travel thousands of kilometres purely to sit in the mehfil and experience the transformative power of Sufi music. Gurdas Maan's annual appearance at the darbaar is another highlight that draws enormous crowds; his deep personal devotion to Laadi Sai Ji is well known and his performances carry an emotional weight that is difficult to describe.
The langar seva deserves special mention. Throughout the three days, the trust provides free meals, tea, and water to every visitor without distinction of faith, caste, or background. The langar operates through the night and it is estimated that over five lakh meals are served during the course of the mela.
How to Reach Nakodar for the Mela
Nakodar is located approximately 25 kilometres from Jalandhar city in Doaba, Punjab. During the mela period, special bus services operate from Jalandhar Bus Stand to Nakodar every 15–20 minutes. Auto-rickshaws and taxis are available throughout. If travelling by train, Jalandhar Junction and Phagwara are the nearest major railway stations. From Delhi, the journey by road via NH-44 takes approximately 7–8 hours.
It is strongly recommended to arrive on 28 August morning to secure a good spot in the mehfil area and to take full advantage of the darshan and langar throughout the day. Accommodation in Nakodar books up weeks in advance during mela season — many devotees prefer to stay in Jalandhar and commute.
What to Expect at the Darbaar
The atmosphere during the mela is extraordinary — a blend of deep spirituality, communal warmth, and joyful celebration. The darbaar complex expands significantly for the three days, with temporary shelters, langar tents, and seating arrangements to accommodate the enormous crowds. Volunteers from the trust manage crowd flow, distribute water, and guide first-time visitors. Mobile medical teams are stationed throughout the grounds.
Devotees who cannot attend in person can follow the mela through live streams on the official YouTube channel and through devotee recordings shared widely on social media. The Nakodar Mela has a global following and is watched by Punjabi diaspora communities in the UK, Canada, the UAE, and beyond.
Spiritual Significance of the Uras
The word "uras" derives from the Arabic word for a wedding feast — in Sufi tradition, the death anniversary of a saint is not a day of mourning but a celebration of the saint's union with the divine. At Nakodar, the uras of Hazrat Baba Murad Shah Ji is celebrated with this understanding — the gathering is a joyful affirmation of the saint's continuing spiritual presence and his eternal intercession on behalf of his devotees.