Amritsar Waris Shah Sufi Poetic Tradition

Waris Shah, the 18th-century Punjabi Sufi poet buried at Jandiala Guru near Amritsar, composed Heer Ranjha, the definitive Punjabi romance epic that shaped literary Punjabi for three centuries. Qawwali and folk singers from Amritsar's Majha region perform verses from Heer at weddings, melas, and dargahs, accompanied by sarangi, harmonium, and tabla. The oral tradition of reciting and debating verses of Waris Shah continues in rural haveli courtyards and the annual Heer Mela held at Jandiala Guru.