Layla Majnun

Layla and Majnun (Qayas) were classmates. Majnun fell in love with Layla. The school master would beat Majnun for paying attention to Layla instead of school work. Their parents learned about their love and prevented Layla and Majnun from seeing each other. They met again in their youth and Majnun wished to marry Layla. Layla’s brother, Tabrez, would not let her shame the family name by marrying Majnun. Tabrez and Majnun quarreled and Majnun killed Tabrez. Majnun was arrested and sentenced to be stoned to death by the Villagers. Layla could not bear it and agreed to marry another man if Majnun would be kept safe from harm in exile. Her terms were accepted and Layla got married, but her heart still belonged with Majnun. Hearing this, Layla’s husband rode with his men into the desert to find Majnun. Upon finding him, Layla’s husband killed Majnun. Layla collapsed in her home when she learned about the death of Majnun. Layla and Majnun were buried next to each other, and her husband and their parents prayed for their afterlife.

In India, it is believed that Layla and Majnun found refuge in a village in Rajasthan before they died. The graves of Layla and Majnun are located in Bijnore village near Anupgarh in the Shri Ganganagar District. According to the rural legend there, Layla and Majnun escaped to this area and died there. Hundreds of people from India and Pakistan visit this place and stay overnight to attend the two-day fair in June. The Layla Majnun theme passed from Arabic to Persian, Turkish, and Indian languages. There are many different stories/kissas written by different writers from time to time. Many movies have been made depicting the story of Layla Majnun in India and Pakistan.

Image Credits: https://www.baytalfann.com/post/layla-and-majnun-a-love-story