KARACHI: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan on Thursday inaugurated three-day annual Urs of great Sufi Saint and poet Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar at Sehwan Sharif.
According to a private news channel, he laid floral wreath at the mazar and offered fateha. The tens of thousands devotees of Hazrat Usman Marvandi Lal Shahbaz Qalandar have started arriving Sehwan from all over the country to participate in the annual Urs of the saint.
They have started establishing tent city and hiring houses on rent in Sehwan town to take part in three-day long 764th annual Urs celebrations. The Urs would start with traditional enthusiasm and was inaugurated by the Sindh governor, who was accompanied by Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah. The shrine of Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar will be opened for the devotees who came from across the country mainly from Punjab province.
The well-to-do devotees have hired the houses of local residents on rent. The others who brought tents with them have started setting up tents at the open places in Sehwan Town while make-shift bazaars having stalls of garments, digital and electronic appliances, artificial jewelry, floral wreaths, garlands and sweets are also under preparations along with road sides leading towards the shrine.
The restaurants and tea shops have also been decorated with colourful buntings to attract and welcome the visitors. The Mela Organising Committee, headed by the Jamshoro deputy commissioner has made arrangements to facilitate the devotees by establishing cold drinking water camps, medical camps and different activities like traditional Sindhi wrestling “Malakhra”, horse and cattle show and agro-industrial exhibition in Sehwan Town.
Besides, the literary conference “Sugharan-ji-Katchery” and musical concerts will also be organised during the Urs celebrations with participation of provincial ministers, advisors and elected representatives as chief guests and guests of honour.
On May 28, the third and last day of Urs celebrations, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah will be the chief guest at the concluding ceremony. He will also visit the shrine.
