August 9th, Baba Bakala – often called the “Village of the Ninth Guru” – bursts into life for Jorh-Mela, one of Punjab’s most cherished Sikh gatherings. Long before sunrise, pilgrims begin arriving, their eyes bright with anticipation. Children run ahead, eager to glimpse the golden domes of Gurdwara Baba Bakala Sahib, while elders pause to offer silent prayers at the shrine marking the spot where Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji proclaimed his son, Guru Har Krishan Ji, as the eighth Sikh Guru.

By mid-morning, the air resonates with soulful kirtan and the murmur of nitnem recitals. Volunteers move seamlessly through the crowds, ladling steaming bowls of dal and passing fresh rotis – each plate a gesture of equality, reminding everyone that at a Sikh gathering, no one is a stranger. As the sun climbs higher, you’ll find families seated together on long mats, sharing stories of past pilgrimages, comparing flower garlands laid at the Guru Granth Sahib, and children chasing each other beneath strings of marigolds and saffron flags.

Outside the Gurdwara, the festival bazaar adds splashes of color and laughter. Artisans display hand-embroidered phulkari shawls, and vendors call out over trays of jalebi and samosas dripping with chutney. Evenings are reserved for kathas – spiritual discourses that weave the tale of Baba Bakala’s rediscovery by Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji – and for the gentle glow of lanterns strung among the trees. As night falls, the entire complex is bathed in lamplight, the fragrance of incense curling through cool night air, and the communal spirit feels as warm as any summer day.

Jorh-Mela isn’t just a fair – it’s a living chapter of Sikh history, an annual reunion of faith and fellowship where every turban, every bowl of prasad, and every hymn sung together binds the community a little closer. Whether you arrive as a devout pilgrim or a curious traveler, Baba Bakala’s festival reminds us all: service, remembrance, and unity are at the heart of Sikh life.