Indo Islamic Heritage
Balasore Railway Station, on the Howrah–Chennai main line, is just about 2 km from the shrine and serves over 150,000 passengers daily across four platforms, including major express services . The main bus stand at Sahadev Khunta lies roughly 2–3 km away, with frequent state and private interstate buses along NH‑16/NH‑60 . For air travel, the nearest airport is Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar, approximately 200 km (about a 3½‑hour drive) from Balasore; Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International is around 232–254 km away .
Baba Bhujakhia Pir—originally Hazrat Swale Mohammad—was a 16th-century Sufi saint from Baghdad who settled in Balasore (Sunhat) in Odisha, dedicating his life to serving humanity, especially cholera victims, at a time when medical help was scarce. He earned the affectionate title “Bhujakhia Pir” (literally “Pir of the puffed rice”) because he sustained himself on bhuja (puffed rice) taken from locals and shared it generously with children and the needy . Legend holds that he passed away under a neem tree—a spot that now marks his revered tomb and the Aasthana Sharif shrine along Chandipur Road . Over centuries, this shrine became a powerful symbol of communal harmony, drawing both Hindu and Muslim devotees—a tradition still evident during weekly Thursday visits and the annual Urs festival . The Urs, now celebrated as a three‑day event on the last Wednesday through Friday of March (with origins in a 1952 formalization and extensions by 1970), brings together thousands of people from Odisha and neighboring states . Rituals include washing the tomb with water from the Budhabalanga River, draping chaddars, offering quintals of bhuja, and communal vegetarian feasts—vibrant expressions of shared faith . Today, the Dargah under the neem tree remains not only a spiritual sanctuary but also an enduring testament to interfaith unity. Even as tensions emerge elsewhere, the shrine continues to inspire communal harmony in Balasore, with Hindus often outnumbering Muslims during the Urs, tied threads against the inner wall as markers of fulfilled wishes—a living cultural tapestry woven through centuries .
Year of Built: 16th - 17th Century
Address: Chandipur Road, Mallikashpur, Balasore, Odisha 756002, India
Country: India
State: Odisha
District: Balasore
Pincode: 756002