Staff Report - Daily Times - Lahore, PakistanSunday, April 22, 2007
The 379th urs celebrations of the Sufi saint Baba Shah Jamal started on Saturday. The celebrations will remain continued for three days and about 300,000 devotees are expected on the occasion.
Religious Affairs and Auqaf minister Sahibzada Saeedul Hassan Shah opened the event by laying chadar and offering fateha at the shrine.
The minister said the teachings of the saint had helped a lot in promoting Islam in the subcontinent. He said his shrine was a source of guidance for all. The shrine, he said, besides having spiritual importance was also a source of amusement for the devotees.
He said the saints had portrayed the true picture of Islam to the world.
He urged the devotees and the cleric to play their role in maintaining interfaith harmony and dialogue at the grassroots level. He declared shrines of the saints as a best place to bring about a social change. He said the cleric should encourage tolerance and enlightenment.
“The clerics should motivate youth towards education, human rights and peace in the society.” He said. “They should play their role in development of the country.”
He urged the clerics to make the country a hub of tolerance and tranquillity.
He said the Auqaf Department had completed Rs 22.2 million development projects to facilitate visitors at shrines and the mosques administered by the department.
“The department has bought Rs 6 million security equipment to ensure tight security at the shrines and mosques.” He said. “The department has provided 160 electric water coolers for the shrines and mosques.”
After the opening and the minister’s speech, the urs celebrations started. The devotees lit clay lamps and some music lovers including women performed traditional dances. A large number of young and old women also joined them. Anna Ishaq Ali, a visitor said “I am visiting the shrine for the first time. I am enjoying the event especially people dancing on the beat of a drum.
”Muhammad Ansar, a devotee of the saint, said, he visits the shrine on every Thursday to get spiritual comfort and mental peace.
“Dancing on the beat of a drum is the speciality of the shrine.” He said. “I have invited my friends from other cities to enjoy the event.”
The shrine has been illuminated. Stalls for traditional food and several other items have been set up. A group of acrobats will also amuse the visitors.
The 379th urs celebrations of the Sufi saint Baba Shah Jamal started on Saturday. The celebrations will remain continued for three days and about 300,000 devotees are expected on the occasion.
Religious Affairs and Auqaf minister Sahibzada Saeedul Hassan Shah opened the event by laying chadar and offering fateha at the shrine.
The minister said the teachings of the saint had helped a lot in promoting Islam in the subcontinent. He said his shrine was a source of guidance for all. The shrine, he said, besides having spiritual importance was also a source of amusement for the devotees.
He said the saints had portrayed the true picture of Islam to the world.
He urged the devotees and the cleric to play their role in maintaining interfaith harmony and dialogue at the grassroots level. He declared shrines of the saints as a best place to bring about a social change. He said the cleric should encourage tolerance and enlightenment.
“The clerics should motivate youth towards education, human rights and peace in the society.” He said. “They should play their role in development of the country.”
He urged the clerics to make the country a hub of tolerance and tranquillity.
He said the Auqaf Department had completed Rs 22.2 million development projects to facilitate visitors at shrines and the mosques administered by the department.
“The department has bought Rs 6 million security equipment to ensure tight security at the shrines and mosques.” He said. “The department has provided 160 electric water coolers for the shrines and mosques.”
After the opening and the minister’s speech, the urs celebrations started. The devotees lit clay lamps and some music lovers including women performed traditional dances. A large number of young and old women also joined them. Anna Ishaq Ali, a visitor said “I am visiting the shrine for the first time. I am enjoying the event especially people dancing on the beat of a drum.
”Muhammad Ansar, a devotee of the saint, said, he visits the shrine on every Thursday to get spiritual comfort and mental peace.
“Dancing on the beat of a drum is the speciality of the shrine.” He said. “I have invited my friends from other cities to enjoy the event.”
The shrine has been illuminated. Stalls for traditional food and several other items have been set up. A group of acrobats will also amuse the visitors.
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