The name of Ram Rai is inextricably linked with the Doon valley as it was with the setting up of his “dera” here that habitation began and the town began to emerge. The Jhanda Mela which is held here very year is now underway. On this occasion, it would be interesting to go back to the life story of Ram Rai, the eldest son of the seventh Sikh Guru, Guru Har Rai.

The historic significance intertwined with the benediction of the Ram Rai Darbar make the Jhanda Sahib and the festival held around it a unique celebration of the arrival of a Guru looking for a place in history and the birth of the city of Dehra Dun. A celebration of faith in the rejuvenation of the spirit in Springtime. The mela is inseparably linked to the history of the city. In fact, it is related to the birth of the city of Dehra Dun and continues to be emblematic of its character and ethos. It was in the month of March,on the fifth day after Holi, in the year 1676 that Ram Rai and his followers reached the area where the city is now located. It was also Ram Rai’s birthday on the day he arrived here. Son of the seventh Sikh Guru Har Rai, Ram Rai fell from grace when he performed miracles in Aurangzeb’s court and deliberately misinterpreted lines from the Adi Granth to please the Mughal emperor.

Pleased by Ram Rai’s performance, Aurungzeb had become his patron. One of the emperor’s friends, Raja Fateh Shah, King of Garhwal, allotted some land in the Doon valley to Ram Rai. Removed from the line of Sikh Gurus, Ram Rai decided to establish his dera or camp here. Hence the name of the town that grew up around the camp..and soon began to expand with the large number of devotees  of Ram Rai who began arriving in large numbers from Punjab. When he passed away in 1687, Aurungzeb built a grand cenotaph to honour his memory. This cenotaph, which stands in the Darbar is a replica of Jehangir’s tomb in lahore and is a marvel of Mughal architecture, with innumerable  attractive frescoes on many of its walls.

Ram Rai’s followers started their own traditions, separate from Sikhism. His followers have been known as Udasis or Ram Raiyyas and they follow the Sanatani way of life, worshipping the Mahants who successively occupied Ram Rai’s Gaddi after his death.

The present Mahant is Devendra Das. Guru Harkrishan, youngest son of Guru Har Rai became the eighth Sikh Guru. When Ram Rai had been called to Aurangzeb’s court, he misquoted  Gurubani. Aurangzeb asked him why Sri Guru Nanak had criticised Islam in the shloka Mitti Musalman Ki, Ram Rai satisfied the assembled people by saying that the line had been copied incorrectly and that the actual writing was correctly Mitti Beimaan Ki and not musalman ki.

Guru Nanak had written — Mitti Musalman ki peirei paee kumiar; Ghar bhandei itan kia, jaldi karei pukar.

It was a way of saying that finally, all who die are burnt, though they may not be cremated. ‘The ashes of the Mohammadan fall into the potter’s clod; Vessels and bricks are fashioned from them; they cry out as they burn.’ Further, it has been said, Ram Rai performed miracles for Aurangzeb’s pleasure. When Guru Har Raiji heard of this incident, he forbade Ram Rai from ever returning home. The Guru’s word is absolute divine revelation and not subject to any modifications by anyone. Miracles although recognized by Sikh faith, are actively discouraged. Their exposition or display is considered arrogance.

Though Ram Rai managed to please Aurangzeb, Guru Har Raiji forbade all Sikhs from ever associating with Ram Rai. Aurangzeb gave Ram Rai a jagir of four villages in the Doon area as a reward.

Shunned by all Sikhs he came to Srinagar Garhwal and became a great friend of Raja Fateh Shah. He then came to this valley. When Guru Gobind, the tenth Sikh  Guru, was in Paonta as a young man, Baba Ram Rai, who had set up is Dera in the Doon valley (giving it its name of Dera Doon or Dehra Dun — a camp in the valley), sent many messages to Guru Gobind, expressing a desire to have a glimpse of him. The latter conceded his request and met the aged Ram Rai, halfway on the Yamuna. It was after this    meeting that Ram Rai was flung into fire by his followers in Dehra Dun. Ram Rai’s followers did not like his meeting with the tenth guru.