Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: The 773rd Urs Mubarak celebrations of the great Sufi saint Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar have officially begun.
The three-day event commenced with the Speaker of the Sindh Assembly, Awais Qadir Shah, and Sindh Minister for Auqaf, Riyaz Shah, inaugurating the ceremony at the shrine of the revered saint.
The officials paid tribute by offering a chadar (cloth) and floral wreaths at the shrine, praying for the safety and prosperity of the country.
Devotees from across Pakistan, including large contingents from Punjab, have started arriving in Sehwan Sharif for the religious occasion. The streets and neighborhoods of Sehwan are resonating with the sound of “Damadam Mast Qalandar,” a popular devotional hymn associated with the saint.
Strict security arrangements have been made to ensure the safety of the thousands of visitors attending the event.
Cultural and Musical Programs
The Urs celebrations will also feature traditional Sindhi cultural games such as Malh Malakhra, an exciting form of wrestling, along with a singers’ performance at the Shahbaz Auditorium in the evening. The event will include cultural activities like the Sugharn Ji Kacheri (a musical gathering), providing a festive atmosphere to mark the occasion.
This annual event attracts millions of devotees who seek blessings at the shrine of Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, one of the most renowned Sufi saints of South Asia.
