Jo Rab Hai Wohi Ram: UP shrine where Hindus and Muslims celebrate Holi in unity

In the heart of Uttar Pradesh’s Barabanki, the dargah of Haji Waris Ali Shah at Deva Sharif turns into a canvas of shared faith and colour each Holi, offering a living testament to communal harmony. Here, chants of “Jai Shri Ram” and “Allahu Akbar” rise together above clouds of gulal, as devotees from different religions gather not just to celebrate a festival, but to reaffirm a centuries-old tradition of unity.

Deva Sharif, the shrine of the 19th-century Sufi saint, is widely known for its distinctive Holi celebration where religious and caste lines blur.

The festival transforms the dargah premises into a sea of pinks, yellows and reds.

Rose petals mingle with abir-gulal, and strains of Sufi poetry float through the air, creating an atmosphere that is both spiritual and festive.

The central message of the celebration — "Jo Rab Hai, Wohi Ram" (The one who is God is the same as Ram) — is reflected in every ritual.

Hindu and Muslim devotees apply colours to one another, exchange greetings and embrace warmly.

Sikh visitors and pilgrims from across the country also travel to participate, drawn by the shrine’s reputation as a space where devotion transcends identity.

While Holi is marked in myriad ways across India, the Sufi Holi of Deva Sharif stands apart for its emphasis on brotherhood.

Participants consciously set aside differences, focusing instead on shared joy.

In a time when conversations around religious divides often dominate public discourse, the festival offers a contrasting image — one of coexistence and mutual respect.

Local accounts say the saint’s tomb was built by a Hindu devotee, Raja Pancham Singh, a gesture that has come to symbolise the shrine’s inclusive ethos.

Over time, this spirit has only deepened. Many Hindu pilgrims revere Waris Ali Shah as a manifestation of Lord Krishna, and the phrase “Waris Sarkar” can be seen displayed on homes and vehicles in nearby areas. Notably, Hindu devotees often outnumber Muslims at the shrine during Holi.

For many, the experience is transformative. “I used to stay home on Holi. But when I first visited the Deva Sharif shrine, I was so immersed in the spring colors that they haven't faded. The message of Hindu-Muslim unity is spread here,” said Pratap Jaiswal, a devotee who has attended the celebration for four decades.

Muhammad Natiq, who travels from Mahoba each year, said the overlapping of Ramadan and Holi only deepens the significance.

“It's the holy month of Ramadan, and it's the occasion of Holi. I was so moved by Waris Ali Shah's message that I now come here every year to celebrate Holi,” he said.

For centuries, this custom has endured at Deva Sharif. As colours settle gently on faces and clothes, they also settle into memory — binding communities together.

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Inputs by Syed Rehan Mustafa