Sohni & Mahiwal
She crossed the river each night on a clay pot
Married off by force, Sohni swam the Chenab River each night, floating on a baked clay pot, to meet her beloved Mahiwal; one night her pot was swapped for an unbaked one that dissolved, and both drowned.
01Why it matters
It is one of the four great romantic tragedies of Punjab, sung by the Sufi poets.
02The conflict
Sohni's forced marriage and her sister-in-law's envy.
03The iconic moment
The unbaked pot dissolving in the middle of the river.
04What survived
The Sufi poetry of Punjab; the Mughal painting of Sohni.
05Frequently asked questions
Why is the story of Sohni & Mahiwal famous?
It is one of the four great romantic tragedies of Punjab, sung by the Sufi poets.
How does the story of Sohni & Mahiwal end?
The unbaked pot dissolving in the middle of the river. The Sufi poetry of Punjab; the Mughal painting of Sohni.
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