By - Amit kumaR Agarwal
Jhumka Tiraha in Bareilly, came into existence in 2020. It is celebrating it's fifth year of existence in 2025; naturally, a whole lot of influencers are busy posting pictures and reels at the coveted spot, eyeing their share of fame!
A brief background about the jhumka's connect with Bareilly.
Bollywood has always connected India across it's length and breadth - no wonder then, whole of India got to know about a city in Uttar Pradesh called Bareilly in 1966, thanks to the chartbuster "Jhumka Gira Re Bareilly Ke Bazaar mein..", where, the heroine laments losing her earring in the bustling market of Bareilly.
The song is still so popular that Karan Johar ripped it off on Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt in Rocky Aur Rani kii Prem Kahaani - of course changing Bareilly to Rae Bareilly avoiding the potential copyright issues - but very interestingly, audiences still heard Bareilly!
The 1966 cult song was written by Raja Mehdi Ali Khan, with music by Madan Mohan, perfectly sung by Asha Bhosle and performed inimitably on screen by the queen-bee of late 60's Sadhana better known as the aunt of the famous Kapoor sisters Karisma and Kareena to today's generation.
Bollywood folklore though has it that the song was inspired by a real life incident.
It reportedly began, when Harivansh Rai Bachchan, father of Bollywood Shahenshah, Amitabh Bachchan, first met, then, Teji Suri (later Bachchan) at a relative’s wedding in Bareilly. Harivansh recited a poem with such beauty that tears rolled-down Teji’s eyes. Harivansh Rai, seeing her moved, was moved himself. That poetic meeting soon blossomed into love. But since there was no wedding announcement, friends would often ask when would wedding happen. One such friend was Raja Mehdi Ali Khan. Teji, seeking to dodge the question, smiled and said - Mera jhumka to Bareilly ke bazaar mein gir gaya hai.
This candid statement stayed firmly etched in Mehdi's memory. Years later, while writing for Mera Saaya, he remembered it, and turned it into an all-time Bollywood hit making the song a folklore in Bollywood history.
No wonder then, the authorities in Bareilly paid a fitting tribute to the iconic song by opening Jhumka Tiraha. While the Tiraha celebrates 5-years this year; the song will celebrate 60-years in 2026.