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Heera Mandi

Coordinates: 31°35′10″N 74°18′35″E / 31.586167101203753°N 74.30980680775039°E / 31.586167101203753; 74.30980680775039
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For the Indian TV series, see Heeramandi.
Heera Mandi
ہیرا منڈی
Shahi Mohallah
Neighbourhood
Heera Mandi ہیرا منڈی is located in Lahore
Heera Mandi ہیرا منڈی
Heera Mandi
ہیرا منڈی
Coordinates: 31°35′10″N 74°18′35″E / 31.586167101203753°N 74.30980680775039°E / 31.586167101203753; 74.30980680775039
Country Pakistan
ProvincePunjab
CityLahore
Administrative townRavi
Union council30 (Taxali Gate)

Heera Mandi (Urdu and Punjabi: ہیرا منڈی, lit. 'Diamond Market'), sometimes referred to as Shahi Mohallah ("Royal Neighbourhood"), is a neighbourhood and bazaar located in the Walled City of Lahore. It is specifically known as the red light district of Lahore, Pakistan.[1][2] It is believed to have been originally named 'Hira Singh Di Mandi', meaning Hira Singh's food grain market. Later, this transformed to the modern name Heera Mandi as it evolved into a ‘red light district’ for the city.

Heera Mandi is located inside the Walled City of Lahore, near the Taxali Gate,[3] and south of the Badshahi Mosque.[4] Heeramandi, originally a song and dance community rooted in the tawaif culture during the Mughal period, first evolved into a hotspot for prostitution during the Durrani invasions. Following British colonization, Heeramandi gradually transformed into a red-light district.[5][6]

Etymology

Hira Singh Dogra, a prime minister of the Punjab, during the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh thought that Shahi Mohalla in the heart of the city may be used as an economic hub, similar to a bazaar, in addition to housing tawaifs.[7] He established a food grains market in the neighborhood which first became familiar as ‘Hira Singh di Mandi’ (Hira Singh's market). Heera means diamond in Urdu and is thought to describe the dancing girls of the area. But in fact,the area's name is traditionally ascribed to Heera Singh, son of Dhian Singh Dogra. Dhian Singh was the Prime Minister during Maharaja Ranjit Singh's reign.

Historical background

Mughal Empire

Established during the Mughal Empire in the 15th and 16th centuries, this place gained prominence during the reign of the third Mughal emperor, Akbar. During the Mughal period, the women were mainly brought from Afghanistan and Uzbekistan for entertainment to Heera Mandi.[8][9] An area south of the Lahore Fort was developed as a residential neighborhood for attendants and servants of the royal court and the Emperor. It later came to be known as Shahi Mohalla, which translates to "royal neighborhood" in English. The area became home to tawaifs, who were professional entertainers associated with the royal court.[6] The market remained the centre of the city's tawaif (courtesan) culture for the Lahore's Mughal era elite during the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries.[4] The name "Heera Mandi" was chosen in honor of Heera Singh, an officer who resided in that area.[10][11]

Durrani Empire

Following invasions by Ahmad Shah Abdali, Heera Mandi became known for prostitution. Abdali began placing the enslaved women he captured during his campaign in Heeramandi for his army's use.[5]

Sikh Empire

Maharaja Ranjit Singh reinstated various Mughal royal rituals in Lahore, including the culture of tawaifs and their court performances, the tawaifs continued to receive royal patronage from the court. Brothels run by Afghans in Heeramandi were shut down.[6][7]

British Empire

British colonial rule solidified Heera Mandi's reputation as a hub for prostitution. Within the market, women and khwajasara (transgenders) offered traditional and classical dances. From the British colonial period till recent past, it remained a centre of prostitution in Lahore.[12] Many Hijras, members of Pakistan's transgender community, frequent the area and are involved in the area's dance culture.After the British colonization, although more brothels and prostitutes were operating in Heera mandi, there were still tawaif performing activities in the area, Heera mandi retained its reputation as a centre of the performing arts. Tawaif's patrons were no longer emperors and nobles but wealthy men from the city. This is when Heera mandi earned its nickname “Bazaar-e-Husn” (Market of Beauty).[6]

After the partition

After the partition of India, young and attractive tawaifs from Heera Mandi became the first choice of Pakistan filmmakers. Girls from the Heeramandi joined the Lollywood industry and gained much fame and wealth. Some of the most skilled tawaifs performed as backup dancers in early Pakistani films.[13] In Heeramandi and surrounding areas, there were many dance and music classrooms, which closed as the tawaifs and musicians left. Eventually, only prostitutes came and stayed at Heeramandi to engage in prostitution.[14][15]

Culture

During the Mughal period, tawaifs of Heeramandi were trained in Indian classical music, Kathak and mujra dance, as well as poetry and etiquette. These tawaif had art teachers or an Ustad to guide them in their skills. They would practice music and dance on the balcony. These tawaifs entertained guests with exquisite art in kotha and provided performing arts to their guests. Some of tawaifs also entered the palace to perform for the Mughal royal family.[16][7]

Prostitution

The brothel houses were further developed by the British in old Anarkali Bazaar for the recreation and enjoyment of the British soldiers during the British Raj. After that these were shifted to Lohari Gate and then to Taxali Gate.[3]

The place is also considered as a symbol for the city of Lahore during the Mughal period. Over time, during the day, Heera Mandi is much like any other Pakistani bazaar and is known for its good food, wide range of Khussa (traditional Mughal footwear), and shops for musical instruments and dance. At night, the brothels above the shops open. Sometimes the words 'Heera Mandi' themselves are considered to be offensive informal talks.[17]

Crackdown on Prostitution

During Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq's reign, an operation was conducted against music and dance houses, which were alleged to be dens of prostitution. The operation served to spread the practice throughout the city.[3] After prostitution was outlawed in Heeramandi, much of the area was converted into food streets, restaurants and shops. In recent times, there are prostitutes in the area who are selling sex secretly, the practice in the neighbourhood is in decline with the rise of reserve prostitutes in online, though it's still illegal.[4][18]

Civic administration

The neighbourhood forms part of Taxali Gate's Union Council 30.

See also

References

  1. ^ Jalil, Xari (30 April 2017). "FADE FROM RED: THE DIAMOND OF LAHORE HAS DULLED". Dawn. Retrieved 2022-07-15.
  2. ^ Qureshi, Tania (23 April 2017). "Heera Singh's Mandi". Pakistan Today. Archived from the original on 2022-07-14. Retrieved 2022-07-14.
  3. ^ a b c Butt, Zohaib (2010-08-19). "Heera Mandi: Scarlet secrets of Lahore". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 2022-07-14.
  4. ^ a b c "How Facebook is killing Lahore's Heera Mandi". Dawn. Agence France-Presse. 23 August 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  5. ^ a b "5 interesting facts about real-life Heera Mandi which still exists in Lahore, Pakistan". moneycontrol.com. 2024-05-04. Retrieved 2024-07-02.
  6. ^ a b c d "Heera Mandi: Red-Light Area With ARoyal Past". 3 March 2021.
  7. ^ a b c "Lahore Chronicle: A journey from Royal Courtesans to Selling Sex in the City-Sumaira Rauf/Saira Rauf".
  8. ^ Jain, Aaliyah (2 February 2024). "9 Facts About Lahore's 'Heera Mandi', Which Has Inspired Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Upcoming Series". ScoopWhoop.com.
  9. ^ "Interesting facts about Pakistan red light area Heera Mandi". Lokmat Times. 7 October 2021.
  10. ^ M Shafiq, 'Old Lahore, 2001
  11. ^ "The untold tales of Heera Mandi". The Asian Mirror. June 27, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  12. ^ Grimes, William (July 20, 2005). "In Shadows of a City of Pleasure, Courtesans Grow Old". The New York Times newspaper. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  13. ^ "Niggo - A Heera Mandi girl in Lollywood and victim of honour killing". Daily Pakistan Global. 2017-06-07. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
  14. ^ "Footprints: When shahi mohallah fell silent". 21 August 2015.
  15. ^ Abi-Habib, Maria (5 January 2019). "They Once Danced for Royalty. Now It's Mostly for Leering Men". The New York Times.
  16. ^ "Heera Mandi: Red-Light Area With ARoyal Past".
  17. ^ "The Dancing Girls of Lahore : Selling Love and Saving Dreams in Pakistan's Pleasure District by Louise Brown".
  18. ^ "Heera Mandi History: कहां खो गए लाहौर की हीरामंडी के रंग? कला के लिए मशहूर जगह कैसे बनी ज़िस्मफरोशी का केंद्र". 23 March 2023.

Further reading

  • Saeed, Fouzia (2001). Taboo!: The Hidden Culture of a Red Light Area. Karachi: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-579412-0.
  • Saeed, Fouzia (2006). "Chapter 6: Good women, bad women: prostitution in Pakistan". In Gangoli, Geetanjali; Westmarland, Nicole (eds.). International Approaches to Prostitution: Law and policy in Europe and Asia. The Policy Press, University of Bristol. pp. 141–164. ISBN 978-1-86134-672-8.*Brown, Louise (2006). The Dancing Girls of Lahore: Selling Love and Saving Dreams in Pakistan's Pleasure District. Harper Perennial. ISBN 978-0-06-074043-6.
  • Khan, Noor Mohammad (2009). Some Time On the Frontier-A Pakistan Journal. CreateSpace. ISBN 978-1-4404-1597-5.
  • Courtesans of Heera Mandi with Rashid Khan｜Lahorenamah in YouTube
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