Heera Mandi (

Urdu Urdu (; , , ) is an Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in South Asia. It is the Languages of Pakistan, national language and ''lingua franca'' of Pakistan. In India, it is an Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of Indi ...

and ), sometimes referred to as Shahi Mohallah (''"Royal Neighbourhood"''), is a neighbourhood and

bazaar A bazaar or souk is a marketplace consisting of multiple small Market stall, stalls or shops, especially in the Middle East, the Balkans, Central Asia, North Africa and South Asia. They are traditionally located in vaulted or covered streets th ...

located in the

Walled City of Lahore The Walled City of Lahore, also known as the Old City or Inner Lahore, refers to the historic core of Lahore, the capital and largest city of Punjab, Pakistan. The early settlements were established between the Origins of Lahore, 1st and 7th ...

. It is specifically known as the

red light district A red-light district or pleasure district is a part of an urban area where a concentration of prostitution and sex-oriented businesses, such as sex shops, strip clubs, and adult theaters, are found. In most cases, red-light districts are partic ...

Lahore Lahore ( ; ; ) is the capital and largest city of the Administrative units of Pakistan, Pakistani province of Punjab, Pakistan, Punjab. It is the List of cities in Pakistan by population, second-largest city in Pakistan, after Karachi, and ...

Pakistan Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...

. 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

, near the Taxali Gate, and south of the

Badshahi Mosque The Badshahi Mosque (; ) is a Mughal Empire, Mughal-era congregational mosque, imperial mosque located in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. It was constructed between 1671 and 1673 during the rule of Aurangzeb, opposite of the Lahore Fort on the north ...

. 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

Ahmad Shah Durrani Ahmad Shāh Durrānī (; ; – 4 June 1772), also known as Ahmad Shāh Abdālī (), was the first ruler and founder of the Durrani Empire. He is often regarded as the founder of modern Afghanistan. Throughout his reign, Ahmad Shah fought ov ...

(1747- 1772) invasions of India. Following British colonization, Heera Mandi gradually transformed into a red-light district.

Etymology

Heera Mandi translates literally to "diamond market".Hira Singh Dogra, a prime minister of the Punjab, during the reign of

Maharaja Ranjit Singh Ranjit Singh (13 November 1780 – 27 June 1839) was the founder and first maharaja of the Sikh Empire, in the northwest Indian subcontinent, ruling from 1801 until his death in 1839. Born to Maha Singh, the leader of the Sukerchakia Misl ...

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

tawaif A ''tawaif'' () was a highly successful courtesan singer‚ dancer‚ and poet who catered to the nobility of the Indian subcontinent, particularly during the Mughal era. Many tawaifs (" nautch girls" to the British) were forced to go into pro ...

s. He established a food grains market in the neighborhood which first became familiar as ‘Hira Singh di Mandi’ (Hira Singh's market). 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 Akbar (Jalal-ud-din Muhammad Akbar, – ), popularly known as Akbar the Great, was the third Mughal emperor, who reigned from 1556 to 1605. Akbar succeeded his father, Humayun, under a regent, Bairam Khan, who helped the young emperor expa ...

. During the Mughal period, women from

Afghanistan Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. It is bordered by Pakistan to the Durand Line, east and south, Iran to the Afghanistan–Iran borde ...

and

Uzbekistan , image_flag = Flag of Uzbekistan.svg , image_coat = Emblem of Uzbekistan.svg , symbol_type = Emblem of Uzbekistan, Emblem , national_anthem = "State Anthem of Uzbekistan, State Anthem of the Republ ...

were brought to Heera Mandi to entertain the royal court. 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. The market remained the centre of the city's

(courtesan) culture for the Lahore's Mughal era elite during the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries. The name "Heera Mandi" was chosen in honor of Heera Singh, an officer who resided in that area.

Durrani Empire

Following invasions by Ahmad Shah Abdali who is also called

, Heera Mandi became known for prostitution. Abdali made it a Prostitution hub for his army

Sikh Empire

Maharaja

Ranjit Singh Ranjit Singh (13 November 1780 – 27 June 1839) was the founder and first maharaja of the Sikh Empire, in the northwest Indian subcontinent, ruling from 1801 until his death in 1839. Born to Maha Singh, the leader of the Sukerchakia M ...

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.

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. 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

brothel A brothel, strumpet house, bordello, bawdy house, ranch, house of ill repute, house of ill fame, or whorehouse is a place where people engage in Human sexual activity, sexual activity with prostitutes. For legal or cultural reasons, establis ...

s 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).

After the partition

After the

partition of India The partition of India in 1947 was the division of British India into two independent dominion states, the Dominion of India, Union of India and Dominion of Pakistan. The Union of India is today the Republic of India, and the Dominion of Paki ...

, young and attractive tawaifs from Heera Mandi became the first choice of

filmmakers. Girls from the Heeramandi joined the

Lollywood Lollywood is Pakistan's film industry, which has served as the base for both Urdu- and Punjabi-language film production. Lahore has been the center of Pakistani cinema since independence in 1947. However, with the Urdu film hub largel ...

industry and gained much fame and wealth. Some of the most skilled tawaifs performed as backup dancers in early Pakistani films. 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.

Culture

During the Mughal period, tawaifs of Heeramandi were trained in Indian classical music,

Kathak ''Kathak'' is one of the eight major forms of Classical Indian dance, Indian classical dance. Its origin is attributed to the traveling bards in ancient northern India known as ''Kathakar'' ("storyteller"), who communicated stories from the ...

and mujra dance, as well as poetry and etiquette. These tawaif had art teachers or an

Ustad Ustad, ustadh, ustaz or ustadz (abbreviated as Ust., Ut. or Ud.; from Persian language, Persian ''ustād'') is an honorific title used in West Asia, North Africa, Central Asia, South Asia and Southeast Asia. It is used in various languages, incl ...

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.

Prostitution

The

houses were further developed by the British in the old

Anarkali Bazaar Anarkali Bazaar (Punjabi language, Punjabi, ) is a major bazaar in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan, Punjab, Pakistan. Anarkali also serves as a neighbourhood and union council of Data Gunj Buksh Town, Data Gunj Buksh Tehsil of Lahore. It is situated in ...

for the recreation and enjoyment of the

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...

soldiers during the

British Raj The British Raj ( ; from Hindustani language, Hindustani , 'reign', 'rule' or 'government') was the colonial rule of the British The Crown, Crown on the Indian subcontinent, * * lasting from 1858 to 1947. * * It is also called Crown rule ...

. After that, these were shifted to Lohari Gate and then to Taxali Gate. The place is also considered as a symbol for the city of

during the Mughal period. Over time, during the day, Heera Mandi is much like any other

and is known for its good food, wide range of

Khussa Sindhi Khusso, Multani Khussa or simply Khussa (), is a traditional footwear produced in Sindh and Multan in Pakistan. Khussa are made by local artisans mostly using vegetable-tanned leather. Khussa is also hand painted on demand by Funkari Custo ...

(traditional Mughal footwear), and shops for musical instruments and dance. At night, the 'brothels above the shops' were opened. Sometimes the words 'Heera Mandi' themselves are considered to be offensive during informal conversations.

Crackdown on prostitution

During

Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq (12 August 192417 August 1988) was a Pakistani military officer and statesman who served as the sixth president of Pakistan from 1978 until Death of Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, his death in an airplane crash in 1988. He also se ...

'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. After prostitution was outlawed in Heera Mandi, much of the area was converted into food streets, restaurants and retail 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 on online websites, though it's still illegal.

Civic administration

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

In popular culture

* ''Lajwanti'', a 2015 Indian TV series is partially set in Heera Mandi. *Heera Mandi is referred to in the 2019 Indian film Kalank. *The district serves as the basis for the 2024 Indian

Netflix Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...

web-series '' Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar'' (2024). *The 2024 Pakistani film '' Taxali Gate'' is partially set in Heera Mandi.