The Urs death anniversary of Salar Masud is observed in May of each year at Bahraich

The Urs death anniversary of Salar Masud is observed in May of each year at Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh, India.

The celebration of martyr Salar Masud is popular among both Hindus and Muslims all over north India, derives from the historical figure of Salar Masud, the nephew of Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi. Killed by the Indian rulers while he was attempting to eradicate their sun-cult, the proselytizing Muslim paradoxically ended up incorporating it within an Islamic mold focused around his tomb at Bahraich. Among his foremost devotees are Doms[1].

While heading for Bahraich in 1034–35, Salar Masud had dispatched a portion of his army and its retinue under Malik Afzal Alavi towards Varanasi (Sukul 1974:152–5, 1977:24–26). The invading contingent was thoroughly defeated on the northern outskirts beyond the boundary wall of the city at the site where the ‘Mosque of the Martyrs’ (Masjid Ganj-i-Shahidan) now stands near the Kashi Railway station. The Muslim civilians, with their women and children, were permitted to settle down in that area as townsmen and over the following century peacefully served the Hindu kings even as soldiers[2].