Fazilka, founded in 1844 CE, is named by its founder JH Oliver after the Mian Fazil Watoo who had earlier owned the land before it was ceded to the British by the Bahawalpur princely state.

Prior to its establishment as a district headquarter by JH Oliver, and as a shopping centre by him, it was an uncultivated bushy area.

Across the Indian village is Sulemanki Headworks on the Satluj River, inside Pakistan just 2 km east of Sadiqui ICP.

[3] As of 2017, it was closed, and people of the area have been demanding the opening of the Sadiqui-Sulemanki border crossing for trade to bring prosperity.

It is jointly held by the military of both nations, Border Security Force (BSF) of India and Pakistan Rangers.

It is similar to the other border ceremonies at Atari-Wagah and Hussainiwala-Ganda Singh Wala in Punjab and Munabao-Khokhrapar in Rajasthan.

Fazilka, like many towns on the India-Pakistani border, has suffered difficulties dating back to the Partition of India in 1947.

The Radcliffe Line, the border recommended by departing British colonial authorities, divides natural resources, and people.

During the ceremony, kin of families separated during partition of India arrive to waive at each other to show affection.

Till 2012, the authorities on both sides of the border used to allow the family members to meet, hug and shake hand with each other but the practice was later on discontinued apparently due to security reasons.

They were mass cremated by villagers in a 90 feet long pyre on 17 December 1971 and their relics were enshrined in the memorial as a smadhi (revered shrine).

Pokhar Singh's family had migrated from the Montgomery District of Western Punjab, and they claimed to represent the Ravi style of jhumar.

The festival serves a dual purpose: fostering the city's development and preserving its rich traditions and cultural heritage.

[12] The climate of the Fazilka District is, on the whole, dry and is characterized by a very hot summer, a short rainy season, and a bracing winter.

The first railway line through the town was set up in 1898 on the occasion of the Diamond Jubilee of the ascension to the throne by Queen Victoria.

Fazilka was connected by railway to McLeod Ganj (now in PakMandi Sadiqganj) on the route to Bahawalnagar and then to Bahawalpur.

An express train started between Sri Ganganagar and Firozpur via Abohar and Fazilka in November 2012 on this track.